Thanksgiving; Attitude Training Training for Christmas

Thanksgiving is past and we are now focusing on the next holiday, Christmas. I found myself pondering if we have readied ourselves for the future holiday by grasping the philosophical and spiritual meaning of this recent holiday we just experienced? I suggest, that perhaps many have not immersed themselves in the true meaning of Thanksgiving and therefore we are ill-prepared for Christmas. 

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time of gratitude. Since childhood I have always understood it is an event to reflect and count your blessings. The model is based upon the historical event  in which Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated a bountiful harvest by feasting together. They recognized that they were being blessed.

Pilgrims and the Native Americans had very different worldview concepts. They were at times adversarial in their relationships. Yet, they laid their differences aside to gather together in appreciation of the blessings that they had received, whether they perceived it as coming from a Judeo-Christian God, or the Great Spirit. They also laid aside their suspicions, irritations, petty differences, and outright hostilities for a time to embrace understanding and a tolerance for the differing worldview beliefs.

Sadly, I think we have not maintained that tradition.Thanksgiving, do we really believe that we have kept a sincere appreciation of the holiday? Or, is our celebration of thankfulness exclusionary? 

Today, you do not have to look far to see our nation divided on values, beliefs, perceptions; in essence our worldview. Cable news, talk shows, social media, etc. reflect the bitter division of the socio-political environment. It is not restricted to ethnic, racial, political, or geographic locations. It has invaded the nuclear family. Experts in relationships commonly appear on television to give their advice on how families can avoid coming to blows at the Thanksgiving table.

The problem is if other people’s worldview conflicts with yours, there is a human tendency to be defensive, suspicious of their motives, and confrontational. This ushers in an attitude of superiority, refusal to listen to an opposing point of view, and even accepting inaccurate information (lies) about them by someone who agrees with your own point of view. Conversely, when they make inaccurate statements, the tendency is to focus on that inaccuracy of their assertions and dismiss their accurate statements.

When Jesus commanded us to ‘love our enemies’, He did not mean only the truly evil or haters, like the ISIS or the Taliban. He meant all people. Our co-workers, family, all political persuasions that are contrary to your position. Disagree, but don’t be disagreeable.

So, let us not forget the lessons of Thanksgiving, giving thanks for everyone, even those who hold another point of view. Only then can we enter into the Christmas season with the right heart because we have practiced giving thanks!