TIA: Thanksgiving is NOT a holiday here...

our thanksgiving decor

"For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." -Hebrews 13:14-16

Thanksgiving.  People all over America will sit down to feasts of epic proportions tomorrow.  They will encircle the table, hold hands, and give thanks for the bounty they have received.  And we will wake up, and go to school just like every other day this week.  We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here. We live it.

Thanksgiving is an American holiday, and we live in a tropical, foreign country.  It has been h.o.t. here lately.  Sandals, a sun dress and sunglasses are my style these days.  It doesn't feel like Thanksgiving.  There are no pumpkin spice lattes.  Cranberry sauce is more $10 for less than 8oz.  The power goes out.  Our coffee pot decides to die.  The driver coming in the opposite direction likes my side of the road better, and doesn't mind that I have to practically fall off the road to get out of his way.   It's just hard to live here some days.  But the good news is- this isn't my home.  Actually, neither is America.

We are sojourners.  this world isn't my true home... Therefore, give thanks. Therefore, praise Him.  Therefore, set your eyes on things above, not on earthly things.  And don't forget to do good and to share...

We belong to A Continuing City.  And the only way to journey through this land well is to keep our eyes fixed on His face.  To give thanks daily, not just once a year.  If I truly want to live well, I must give thanks; it's my air supply on this foreign planet.  And so I fill up page after page- counting His gifts- trying to see His hand in each day.  If I don't, my gaze drifts to dirt and then my soul sinks to darkness.  So I keep counting; I keep giving thanks.

Because Thanksgiving is not just an American holiday.  It's my daily response to a good God who can be trusted. And if you need some help getting grateful today- check out this "Prayer for Overflowing with Thankfulness" and this post on "Generating Gratitude".    And this post from Ann Voskamp, When Thanksgiving is Hard.