No doubt you are all familiar with Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Well listen to this one:  In November of 2007, the Associated Press reported a “turkey parade” in Greenlawn, New York.  On Thanksgiving day, 2007, fifteen wild turkeys strutted into the suburban village of Greenlawn and then left just in time to avoid dinner. The turkeys drew crowds of spectators as they showed up that morning. Then they left – marching in single file – about 1 p.m. Police were called because the turkeys created a traffic hazard while crossing a road, but officers never intervened because the birds kept walking. No one has seen or heard from them since, residents report. Unlike some Greenlawn residents, Joyce Logan said she never had thoughts of catching one of the turkeys in her yard and turning it into dinner. "I can't eat something that I've met," she explained. 

Now, I do not claim to know the mind of a wild turkey, or any other animal for that matter.  But I can’t help but see a lesson we can learn from them.  Thanksgiving is not about a bird.  It’s not about a meal. It’s not about family gatherings.  It’s not about football games. And it’s certainly not about the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.  

Thanksgiving is about - well, giving thanks.  It’s about recognizing that  all we have comes from God, who is “the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”(James 1:17) Most parades I have seen tend not to declare this truth.

Perhaps we Christians should parade as well.  Perhaps in our actions and attitudes, our lifestyles and workplaces, we should declare our gratitude to God for all we have.  Perhaps in doing this, we can show that Thanksgiving is not another commercial season.  

 See you in the Thanksgiving place this Sunday,

Pastor Larry