Thanksgiving Thoughts…Life Links
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday on the year. The weather is normally cool and the leaves have changed color with the coming of the fall season. Thanksgiving was first celebrated by around 52 English Pilgrims and at least 90 members of the Wampanoag tribe in the autumn of 1621 near Plymouth, Massachusetts. You may not know that the United States in the only nation in the world that celebrates this specific holiday. Another reason I enjoy Thanksgiving is because it has not become so commercialized like many other holidays.
I also think of thanksgiving as one of my legacy links or life link. Thanksgiving, along with Easter and Christmas make up my favorite holidays because they keep me linked to my brothers, sisters, in-laws, and close family friends.
I recently created a three-link chain to remind me of these three special times of the year as well as a reminder of the three important virtues of Humility, Gratitude, and Generosity.
The first link of the chain represents Easter and the virtue of humility. I associate Easter with Humility because Jesus gave up the “perks of paradise” to humbly die on the cross for my sins. The second link of the chain represents the holiday of Thanksgiving and the virtue of Gratitude. John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world He Gave... Did you know that the word gave or giving is mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible? The third link in the chain represent Christmas and the virtue of Generosity. If we are thankful, we will become more generous. Christians should be the most generous people in the world and many are just that.
These three virtues are linked. As we grow in humility, acknowledging what Christ did for us, we will should begin to become more grateful, more thankful for all Christ has done for us.
As we grow in gratitude we should also grow in Generosity, giving of our time, talent and treasure.
These legacy links, or life links, help me keep these three holidays in proper perspective and stay focused on family and the godly virtues of humility, gratitude and generosity. Happy Thanksgiving from Rugged Faith. Give Thanks with humility and a grateful heart.