Thanksgiving: Noticing the Small Things
Rob Ferry • November 23, 2020
Not much in 2020 has been typical. And our upcoming holiday season will be no exception.
Take Thanksgiving.
Traditionally, many of us gather with extended families, in the most significant home, around long tables while we gorge ourselves on turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and other traditional standards. Perhaps we take a moment to invite each family member to share some things they are ‘thankful for,’ before adjourning in our food comas to watch sports, play games, goof off in the backyard or catch a fat nap.
But in this atypical year, most of that will not be happening.
And on that First Thanksgiving, not much was typical either. It’s hard for us to understand today just how precarious the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth Plantation was.
So try this: Take the ‘typical’ picture above and subtract the roof, the climate control, the table, the cranberry salad, even the turkey. Realize there were no couches or lounge chairs or TVs or electronics. On the menu were various herbs, root vegetables, meat (most like venison supplied by the Wampanoag Indians), and a surprising amount of fish, shellfish, and possibly eel.
Yummy, right?
Robert Tracy McKenzie, in the book The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth Plantation, explains:
“Tables and even chairs were scarce…knives were rare…and forks were nonexistent”. When we think of that first Thanksgiving meal, he says, “we should picture an outdoor feast in which almost everyone was sitting on the ground and eating with their hands.”
And he didn’t mention that you would need to also imagine that over the last year, likely half of your family had died.
Given that, what prompted this group to sit down and give thanks? Why didn’t everyone go sulk or throw a pity party or fly off the handle in anger at the difficulties and hardships they had experienced?
A possible answer lies in one verse in a book written by a physician in the time of Jesus. Ironically, the story involves characters who were under mandatory social-distancing directives.
As the story unfolds in Luke 17, Jesus is traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee on his way to Jerusalem. He enters a certain village and 10 men with leprosy come out to meet him. Respectfully, due to their illnesses, they stood at a distance from Jesus (a form of religiously-mandated social distancing) as they shouted out to Jesus, inviting his pity and mercy on their predicament. Jesus offered a simple, one-sentence response, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were healed.
Nine of the lepers go on their merry way, but one returned. Verse 15 describes him this way:
'When he saw that he was healed, (he) came back, praising God (thanking God) in a loud voice.’
Did you catch it?
What led to his gratitude?
He NOTICED.
That’s pretty much it. ‘When he SAW that he was healed, (he) came back, praising God in a loud voice.’
He returned to say thanks once he noticed. Once he noticed, I believe his expression of gratitude was inevitable, even almost involuntary. I mean, once you notice something spectacular, it’s hard not to say something.
‘I’ve got good news; the cancer is in remission.’
‘He proposed; look at my ring.’
'I just saw the best movie.’
‘I can’t believe you came; thanks!'
I think it was like that for the Samaritan. Once he realized he’d been healed, he couldn’t help but turn back and share his joy and thanksgiving with Jesus.
Thanksgiving is like that. Once you recognize your blessings, you can’t help but share your joy through thanksgiving. It’s genuine, often spontaneous.
So, the Samaritan turns back to offer thanks. He knows he’s been given a gift and can’t help saying something. And in doing so, he’s given a second gift, as he leaves his encounter with Jesus, not only healed but also blessed:
blessed in his own recognition of healing, blessed at being drawn into a deeper relationship with the one he thanked, blessed at hearing himself commended for having great faith.
That’s the way thanksgiving always works; in giving thanks for a gift given, we are blessed again.
So, how did those First Thanksgiving participants find a reason for thanksgiving? And how might we in 2020 find reasons to be grateful, despite perhaps having experienced hardships and life disruptions like never before?
We take time to notice all that is yet good around us.
We take time to notice that all is not lost.
Instead of noticing all the things we don’t have or can’t do, we take time to notice all things we do have and can do.
That’s how you find reasons to be thankful when it seems there is not much to be thankful for.
The pressures of this unprecedented year have fueled exaggerated levels of fear and negativity, dragging us into a ‘scarcity’ mindset. But when we look up and look around and take notice of our blessings, we demolish our scarcity thinking and open ourselves up to a world of abundance, mercy and grace.
It was precarious in Plymouth. But they took time to notice. And we would greatly benefit if we did the same.
So, why not set aside some time over the coming days to sit still and take time to notice? And catalog some of the following:
Notice the things that are going well in your life.
Notice your gifts.
Notice the friends in your life.
Notice the family members who love you.
Notice the things that thrill and excite you.
Notice all the abilities and talents and skills you have.
Notice the unexpected and pleasant surprises this year.
Notice the things that lift your spirits.
Notice all the silver linings.
Notice the big and little things that give you joy.
And then smile and rejoice in the many blessings that have been with you all year long.