Thanksgiving Challenge: A Message in a Bottle
Food finally adorning the table, a set of cutlery ready to strike at what promises to be a wonderful, if oddly sweet, meal. You look over to check on your freshly polished gavel which will no doubt come into play within the next few minutes, after all, he’s here—that uncle or brother-in-law who drives you nuts. As you take your first few mouthfuls, you wonder whether it will be politics, the vaccine, or even religion that sets everyone off. Maybe you should have bought some boxing gloves.
I should mention at this stage that I’m not celebrating Thanksgiving this year. In fact, I never have, and I probably never will.
I’m a Brit, and this portrait of Thanksgiving is based on ones I’ve seen painted repeatedly through the last couple decades of observing American culture through films, TV, and social media. Like quarterbacks, candy corn, and Twinkies, I have distinct, albeit second-hand, opinions on so many elements of U.S. culture which I have only ever experienced vicariously. I’ve had some American food, and I’m happy with what we’ve already got; American Football is very much just Rugby with Kevlar.
“But one aspect of U.S. culture I truly wish I could envy is Thanksgiving. It’s a time to get together with friends and family to enjoy a meal together and be thankful. ”
But one aspect of U.S. culture I truly wish I could envy is Thanksgiving. It’s a time to get together with friends and family to enjoy a meal together and be thankful. On the face of it, that sounds excellent. The problem however, is that though that might be the idea, it seems the reality is often quite different.
Perhaps your Thanksgiving dinner looks nothing like what I described. But enough of America has delivered this message past her borders and out across the Atlantic for so long and with such consistency that I’ve never been exposed to anything else. What’s more, it seems to have increased these past few years.
With that said, I’m not writing this article simply to lambast you for celebrating your holiday incorrectly, but rather because I’d love to encourage you to step out of the culture and to lead your families, your countrymen, and others across the world in what true Christian thanksgiving could look like.
A Cultural Microcosm
Shouting out to his mum, Mark begged for the key to the back garden to go out and play. Calling from the front of the house, she objected. What proceeded was a loud exchange in which both parties were correct, but from different points of view. As Mark looked out the back, he saw nothing but sunny skies and beautiful weather. His mother, on the other hand, saw from the front an incoming storm and rain beginning to hit the window. When we gather with our families, though we belong to the same blood, we’ve all been subjected to different decades, school systems, parental decisions, geographical locations, and fields of study or careers.
“With so many differences, it’s understandable that even between blood relatives arguments might arise.”
The resulting group probably looks less like a cheesy family portrait and more like a mixed cast from a film produced by both Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino. With so many differences, it’s understandable that even between blood relatives arguments might arise from varying perspectives on politics, culture, and oncoming storms. Those perspectives may be ones you vehemently oppose, possibly rightfully so and upon a foundation of biblical truth. As Christians, though, we aren’t called to live lives of confrontation. In Romans 12, Paul exhorts us to live and love differently.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Rom. 12:9–14 CSB)
As powerful as it would be for a Brit to exhort you on how to do this—over here we would call that sarcasm—I think it would be better to let Scripture lead you through prayer instead. I humbly offer you a prayer to consider reading aloud this Thanksgiving, perhaps giving special focus on those lines you find most difficult to pray.
Prayer for Thanksgiving
My Father and my Lord,
Help me this Thanksgiving to serve you in all I do, in all I say, and in all I think (Rom. 12:10–11). Help me to be aware of my bias and any hypocrisy which arises within me. I am aware of my sinful nature and my propensity to do wrong (Eph. 2:1–3); help me to remember that when I’m tempted to judge others for having the same nature as I. Let me instead love my family, my friends, and extended loved ones (1 John 4). Help me to see and dwell upon the good, the beautiful, and the lovely in every one of them—from the smallest to the eldest, the closest to the most distant.
Help me Lord to take the lead this Thanksgiving in honoring them all, not so that I might boast, but so that I can show something of your goodness, something of yourself in my actions (Phil. 2:3). From honoring my father and mother (Deut. 5:16) to honoring the life that has just come into the world, help me to remember they all bear your image (Gen. 1;26). Remind me that yours is a Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and as I live by the Spirit, let me also keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:16–26). There will be opportunities to join in celebrating the hopes and dreams which are just now finding their roots this year; help me to know how best to rejoice in each of these (Rom. 12;15). Let me put aside my own hopes, dreams, and aspirations for those whom I love—even just for today—so that I might love them better.
There will also be afflictions, we have lost members of our family and people we love. We have experienced hardship and loss, and we’ve known the sting of rejection since we last came to this table. Help me to be patient, to show steadfastness in the trial (James 1:12), but also to mourn with those who mourn and are in pain, just as you do for us (Psalm 34:18; 147:3). When I don’t know what to do or say, I pray you will take the lead and help me to persevere in prayer (Rom. 8:26–27). There will be those around our table who are in need of the Lord’s provision and counsel this year.
Ultimately, Lord, I lift these needs to you, under whose provision I rest. Where you are leading me to be your instrument in the face of these needs, help me to do so with kindness and gentleness, not out of obligation or a need for control, but only to open my hand or let my voice loose with love.
Lord, I cannot control every moment of this day. I cannot ensure that this sentiment will be shared by all, or that I myself won’t be a target of animosity or flaming arrows. But as it rests on me to respond with love, help me to do so with blessings, and not in kind. Even if the worst happens and I come under persecution or anger, remind me to love my enemy and to bless them all the same (Luke 6:35–36).
“Help me today to decide to lead in a song of thanksgiving from sunrise tonight to sunrise again this day next year.”
Finally, thank you for this day, thank you for the opportunity to be a vessel of salt and light (Matt. 5:13–16). Thank you for good food and for those with whom I’m about to share it. Thank you that I can enter into thanksgiving knowing that there is a God to whom I can address my thanks. Thank you that this posture of gratitude doesn’t need to stop today but can continue throughout the rest of my life (1 Thess. 5:18).
Help me today to decide to lead my family, my friends, my church, my culture, my country, and my brothers and sisters around the world in a song of thanksgiving from sunrise tonight to sunrise again this day next year.
I pray this in your mighty name Jesus, Amen.
Adsum Ravenhill is married to Anna and together they are passionate about seeing young men and women discipled within the context of the local church. Adsum’s writing can be found at The Raven’s Writing Desk where you can find writing centered around the topics of discipleship and doxology. Adsum also writes from his own experience of suffering and the joy he has found there, encouraging you to do so also.