The holidays from Thanksgiving to the New Year had always been a wonderful time of the year for me and my family.
It was a time to gather, eat and make merry. With all its sounds, smells, and the taste of the holidays. A time filled with love, moments to cherish, and my belly filled with the foods I love the most. The holidays are my favorite time of the year. However, this year will be a little different with fewer family members and friends to share the holidays with. Nevertheless, Thanksgiving is a season that will still arrive with all of its excitement. My plan is to begin it with a grateful heart and have a blessed thanksgiving.
I have always felt this sense of excitement as the Thanksgiving season approached. Hence, I looked forward to spending time with family and friends. Going shopping for the food to prepare and shopping for décor for this happy turkey day. The excitement of buying holiday gifts and ringing in the new year. However, I know that for others this time of the year brings anxiety, depression, and loneliness. I feel this way towards the end of the holidays as I approached the long winter days and nights until spring. Winter is my least favorite season. It is cold, the snowy roads are scary and the days are super short. Meanwhile, we must remember it is only a season. Therefore, I will focus my thankful heart on the good health of my family, friends, and myself.
However, I know that for others this time of the year brings anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
Thankfulness
I am thankful for my pumpkin bread instead of pumpkin pie which I have incorporated and perfected into my menu. Our household is a sweet potato pie family. On this special day, we will have all our staples, collard greens, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, and many other wonderful things to eat. However, this year there will be turkey breast without the turkey legs. As I stated it is a much small gathering than in the past but it will still be good times and good food for all. May the peace of Christ rule over this small but loving gathering. This special time together is our greatest blessing.
Thanksgiving is a season to focus on Jesus
It is a season I must strive to focus on Jesus and not my worries about winter storms, paying holiday bills, or dealing with day-to-day trials and tribulations. The devil never takes a break from the troubles he can bring even during the holiday season. The lies he tells make us take our focus off God’s promises. Hence, in the midst of trials, it makes us forget to give thanks for all our many blessings regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves. Therefore, For a happy Thanksgiving Day, we should keep our focus on Jesus and the good things of life. The best way to do this is to remember the religious thanksgiving messages from these thanksgiving bible verses below:
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30 (ESV)
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! Psalm 147:7 (ESV)
“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Every Season is Temporary
I was reminded by my pastor that no matter how long the season of trouble is, it is only a season. Our joy in the Lord is forever. Our hope is in the future with our Lord and savior. We must keep our focus on the one who saves. We should strive to be like Jesus. Inasmuch, he was able to endure the cross for our sins because he knew joy awaited him. Like every season the season of sin and pain for Jesus from the cross was temporary. Hence, he is seated at the right hand of the Father. Our season of joy awaits us as well and it will be eternal. Therefore, we must realize sin and pain are but a season. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus.
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Thanksgiving is a Season of reflection
Whether you find you have no joy going into the holiday season or find you have lost your joy like me after the holidays have come to an end, realize this is just a season. Find the time to spend with the Lord reflecting on the things you can be thankful for and for your future joy. Therefore, spend time helping others less fortunate than yourself. For it is always a good day to help those in need. Consistently express gratitude for the positive things in your life. It is the little things where we will find our joy. Trust me there are a lot of things to be grateful for. Finally, please seek professional counseling if this is more than just a case of the blues. My best wishes to you in seeking help.
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:5-7 NIV
Therefore, I plan to focus my time on Jesus and helping others. Taking the focus off of me this Thanksgiving Season. My thanksgiving prayers for you are that you develop a deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. I have nothing but warm wishes for you and your family and a very happy thanksgiving.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah Psalm 84:8 (ESV)
May the almighty God hear our prayers.
Dear Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for your unconditional love, O God. This is your greatest virtue. We know that nothing can separate us from the love of God. For it is steadfast love, faithful and unchanging. We are truly thankful for this year and the coming year to have your love. We are thankful for this thanksgiving dinner and those that surround the dinner table. May you continue to bless us all. Amen.
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Additional Readings:
Finding Jesus and Reconciliation
Love and Blessings,
Sabrina
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Very good advice and insight for this time of year.
Great post! I absoluteoh love the holiday season, there is just something magical about Christmas that makes me extra excited this time of year. I am generally always a pretty happy/optimistic person so I don’t tend to loose joy in life after the holidays.
Beautiful post! Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a wonderful season filled with joy and blessing all the way through the new year!
Good reminder that the seasons change. Spring and Fall are my favs! Yes, they are all temporary and then along comes another 🙂
This is a great reminder of who we celebrate this time of year. I get lost in the magic of Christmas as well, but need to focus on WHY we even have Christmas.
I have learned that no matter how dire things seem, this too shall pass.
Winter is my least favourite season as well. I love December leading up to Christmas and New Years but find it depressing after that until spring in March. We try to get out and do some fun things between January and March to keep us from getting into a funk and it seems to help.
This is a great idea for Thanksgiving. I also thought to keep thinking of things I am thankful for all week instead of focusing on the negative.
I never loved the winter/cold either. Until I started snow boarding, or finding other outdoor activities to actually appreciate it. Great little read.
Perfect time of year to focus on Jesus and serving. Actually, all year is great but this year is especially a good year to do so. lol Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Thanksgiving is, by far, my favorite holiday. I love the autumn, and I adore the fact that there is no agenda, hidden or otherwise, to this holiday; it’s just about gathering together, feasting, celebrating the harvest, feeling thankful for what we have, and enjoying – how pure and wonderful is that?!
It is especially important this year to remember all that we have to be thankful for!
Great reminders to be grateful….always.
Great advice! Winter is not my favorite either, it think wouldn’t be so bad if we got a bit more sunlight.
Thank you for sharing your insights about your favorite season.
I love the idea that the season of problems is only temporary. We all need to tap into our faith.
You can never go wrong when you focus on Jesus!
Being thankful and recognizing all our blessings is what I associate with this season. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Very nicely done! Happy Thanksgiving!
This is my favorite time of year too, from the beginning of fall until my birthday on January 9.
Thanksgiving is a natural time for reflection; focusing on what I’m grateful for sets the tone for the rest of the holiday season.
I LOVE that keep in mind it is only a season. It will pass and greater things will come. It can be difficult to remember that especially in times when it feels like it will never end. But it does and then it will get better.