It was the three pumpkins sitting on the sidewalk that first garnered my attention. I saw them out of my peripheral vision as I approached the house. I had the thought that the spirit of Thanksgiving was in the air. It left me with a warm sense of gratitude. As a way of life, a thanksgiving approach is a healthy lifestyle.
When I walked past the front of the house, my eyes caught sight of the Christmas wreath hanging on the door. I momentarily had to do a double-take. So was the person living there decorating for Thanksgiving or Christmas. My first thought was, "You can't have it both ways."
After giving the issue more thought, I recognize that you cannot experience one without the other. The message of Christmas reflects God's gift of Christ, the sacrificial lamb slain before the foundation of the world. The life provided through him meets our greatest needs. With that gift comes life everlasting. Without it, we are without hope.
Consequently, the presence of gratitude is a natural response to the gift of life that we have received. So why not link Thanksgiving and Christmas together?
I initially thought linking Thanksgiving and Christmas together was out of place. I now retract my fragmented thinking and recognize the two go hand in hand. You cannot experience one without the other.
All My Best!
Don