“Happy turkey day,” said my Sister Eileen with joy and laughter in her voice.  So why did it offend me?  It’s scary; the amount of holidays now, that seem to miss the mark.  It’s also amazing how easy it is to change the meaning of something by a simply disguising its original intent.  For example the word “Holiday” came from two words, “Holy day” and merge together. Had it been left in its original state, its meaning would be clear every time it was used; a Holy day.   In Ancient and Biblical times “holy days” were conserved Sabbaths and associates with rest; hence the rest aspect of “holidays” now.  As we become more self-centered and our culture refuses to acknowledge anything as holy, we have dropped the holy from “Holy Days” and kept the rest.  The problem is when you take out the reason, purpose and meaning of something then it becomes a vain event.

Holidays were intended to commemorate the pivotal events of our relationship with God, and expanded later to include pivotal events in our nation’s history.  In our politically correct culture even some historical events are currently being rewritten to meet certain sensitivities and not offend. This means that even purely historic events are not handed down from one generation to another accurately.  A people who are disconnected from their roots are lost, and incapable of fulfilling their purpose.  To properly define where you are going you have to know where you are coming from.  Modern living does not embrace the idea of generational objectives and responsibilities.  Yet this is what God had in mind when he introduced “Holy Days” to the human family.  God looks at us generationally and judges us by how well we pass on his values to our children.  This is the concept of raising Godly seed.

So my mom called me from Trinidad to wish me a happy thanksgiving.  As a frequent visitor to the States and having spent a few thanksgivings with us, she knows and loves the thanksgiving tradition.  Yet my family has practiced thanksgiving long before our migration to America. Growing up my Mother held a thanksgiving service every year.  Now my entire family does not serve God in the same way from a religious standpoint, but this is one thing we have all learned from home, the value of giving thanks.  So when she handed my “crazy sister” the phone I was not expecting turkey day.  Now Eileen or Robbie as I call her, is one of the fun loving members of my army of sisters. So you never know what will come out of her mouth, because like we say in Trinidad, “she like to kicks.”  So I am not mad at her but at us.

Eileen has never been to the States yet she has come to associate turkey with Thanksgiving like most people now in the world.  Why? Because this is the value we project of the day.  Very few of us consider thanksgiving beyond the meal and the travel.  Most of us do not have a thanksgiving tradition that allows us opportunity to thank God for his many blessings.  A lot of us will not go to church this week but we will watch football.  I simple told my Sister I was not celebrating the turkey but the “Lamb” and the “Lion”.  You see He is the one I believe deserves my gratitude and attention.  I don’t intend to be so chicken I cannot stand up and say so out loud, besides I’m no turkey! I am not saying we become monks on thanksgiving because it is a feast and a celebration.  I think we can do all of it and have a blast.  I’m just asking; did you say thank you?

"It's Just A Thought."

EF

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