Thanksgiving | Wayne Stiles

Dealing with Lonely Holidays

For many people, the holidays draw up painful memories.

Sore spots from childhood or the loss of loved ones hit hard during this sentimental season. While many people celebrate the joys of Christmastime, others suffer lonely holidays.

Dealing with Holiday Loneliness Dealing with Lonely Holidays

(Photo courtesy of stock.xchng)

During one of the most desperate times of King David’s life, the anointed future king of Israel found himself running from two separate enemies—hardly a time to celebrate. With the Philistines to the west and King Saul to the east, a distressed David sought refuge in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1–2).

David felt very alone.

His situation offers encouragement to us during lonely holidays.

Your Thanksgiving Peace Offering

For most of us, reading about the sacrifices of ancient Israel is a real yawner.

But hidden behind the veil of ritual and strangeness are principles of timeless value. As we approach Thanksgiving, one sacrifice rises from the ashes of antiquity as instructive.

Tabernacle model tb030807088 Your Thanksgiving Peace Offering

(Photo: The Peace Offering occurred in the Tabernacle Courtyard. Courtesy of Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)

“Rituals are apparently irrational acts which become rational when their significance is explained.”- Northrop Frye

In the days of ancient Israel, a special offering, different from the ones required for sin, allowed a person to give God thanks for something He had done.

The Thanksgiving Peace Offering has a timeless lesson.

Send a Thank-You Note Today

Think about one person who has inspired you, encouraged you, or helped you. Got that person in your mind?

Now, let me ask you a question: Have you ever sent a thank-you note to that person?

Thank you note Send a Thank You Note Today

Photo: Monkey Business Images, via Vivozoom

Not long ago a client sent a thank-you note to the editors in our department, expressing appreciation for their excellent work. The client told me of the editors’ surprising reply: “No one has ever thanked us before.”

That tragic statement got me thinking.

Those who feel weary from the drivel of a politically correct culture can appreciate this fourth grader’s report on the origins of Thanksgiving:

The pilgrims came here seeking freedom from you know what.
When they landed, they gave thanks to you know who.
Because of them, we can worship each Sunday, you know where.

ply000002 In Perspective—Thanksgiving

The familiar and difficult Mayflower voyage was exceeded only by the bitter winter the Pilgrims endured after landing at Plymouth Rock. Their rations fell to five kernels of corn per day as they prayed and struggled to survive. That first winter claimed half their lives. After their terrible losses, they reaped such a bountiful harvest in 1621 that they chose to offer a weeklong celebration in thanks to the Lord.

Even our politically correct culture, in the days after 9/11, tossed convention aside and sang with great appreciation: “God Bless America.” Churches filled to overflowing the following Sunday.

A heart of gratitude comes from one simple word—perspective. Loss makes us thankful for our blessings. And perspective can occur at any moment:

The car accident you survived makes you thankful for the family who irritated you earlier in the day.
After losing a job unexpectedly, you feel immense gratitude for the new position you have.
The doctor’s report of cancer in remission causes you to view each new day as the blessing it is.

Matthew Henry, the Bible commentator, fell prey to robbers one day. That evening he made the following entry in his diary:

Let me be thankful—First, because I was never robbed before. Second, because although they took my wallet they did not take my life. Third, because although they took my all, it was not much. And finally, because it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed.

As Thanksgiving finds its way into our homes and families with turkey and dressing, potatoes and pies, and cakes and cranberries—let’s do more than thank “you know who” for “you know what.” Let’s remember the rich tradition the Pilgrims started and the hardships that pulled that gratitude from them.

Perspective still makes thankful hearts.

“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

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Picture credit: Library of Congress, Washington D.C.