In the last few years, the Thanksgiving holiday has slowly been redefined by overeating, crank in-laws, lots of NFL football, and early Christmas sales. Now, I enjoy all of those things (yes, even the cranky in-laws). But if we are not careful, we can allow a grand moment for worship and thanks to pass us by as we’re grabbing for the remote and more pumpkin pie. This is where I think Dads can lead their families with a bit of courage and a lot of creativity.
As the spiritual leader in the home, Dads have a job to set the tone. I’m not saying we need a five-hour sermon series on the finer points of thankfulness and the history of Squanto, but at times in the Thanksgiving holiday, Dad needs to make some right turns and steer the family toward some expressions of gratitude. This could be a throat-clearing moment at dinner when Dad puts down the turkey leg and says, “Okay, I would like everyone to go around the table and express thankfulness for some blessings they received this year.” You might even plan ahead and bring your Bible to the table and read from Habakuk 3 or 1 Thessalonians 5:18. If you own a hymnal you might crack it open to a hymn like “Come Ye Thankful People, Come” or “We Gather Together” or “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.” You can also Google those hymns and print them out to read.
This might take a bit of foresight, but I think it’s important for a Dad to set a tone of warmth, thanksgiving, and gratitude on Thanksgiving. Especially since Dads typically approach this holiday with a bit of a sense of indulgence: overeating, lots of football, and unwillingness to engage family. We tend to allow the ladies to serve us and offer little in the way of spiritual leadership.
I’m not saying watching football is bad on Thanksgiving. I plan on watching plenty of NFL. And I love to eat turkey and all the trimmings. However, with a little effort, Dads can lead the way to recovering the original intent of the holiday.