In African American families Thanksgiving is
often celebrated at the home of the patriarch or matriarch of the family be it
grandmother, grandfather, mother and father, aunt, uncle or an older sibling or
cousin. Actually, Sunday afternoon
dinner became a mini-Thanksgiving dinner in my family. I have fond memories of
my grandmother’s kitchen as we sat around the table discussing the Sunday
morning worship service and the pastor’s sermon while eating fried chicken,
collard or mustard and turnip greens, cornbread and macaroni and cheese.
The only difference between Sunday afternoon and
Thanksgiving dinner was the fact that it involved more foods such as turkey,
dressing, mash potatoes, candied yams, cranberry sauce, sweet corn, corn on the
cob, pound cake and sweet potato pie as everybody in the family and the
community were invited to eat.
While, my grandmother has passed on, this tradition is still observed in
my family and is being passed down to my own children.
Thanksgiving was originally an observance for all Americans to give thanks to God for a common purpose. In similitude
of the first Thanksgiving, Americans have celebrated this holiday with foods
for the season signifying the faithfulness of God who yields harvest in our
lives. The Thanksgiving tradition has become the theme of many fall festivals,
parades, football games, schools, civic, religious and social organizations,
and Christian worship services.
Today when you gather with friends and family to
eat, laugh and reminisce, think about and share with one another the many
reasons you have to give thanks. We can be thankful for health, physical stamina and strength.
For some it may financial resources, a job or just a place to live.
Whatever difficulty you may be experiencing you
can still offer a thankful response to God as the source and sustainer of life. Like those who originally celebrated
this holiday, we are grateful for the faithfulness of a God who has yielded
fruit in our lives.
Have a Grateful Heart of Thanksgiving this year!
Dr. Toni
