When do you decorate your home for Christmas?  Most tend to fall into one of two categories:  the before Thanksgiving crowd, or the after Thanksgiving crowd.  There’s no one right way, of course, but it’s usually based on personal preference, or a firm conviction about the way you and your family do things.  I’ve always been an after Thanksgiving Christmas decorator, myself, for a few reasons:  The day after Thanksgiving is usually a day when my family and I don’t have anything else going on.  My husband and I don’t have to work, the kids are off from school, I feel good at this point about not having overlooked Thanksgiving, and we are ready to move on to all things Christmas.

This year things are different.  We will be having our Thanksgiving at my mom’s house the day after Thanksgiving this year, and therefore, will not have enough time to pull out all the Christmas decorations and decorate the house that day.  My eager daughter also decided about a week ago, that we needed to start making Christmas crafts, and playing Christmas music.  “Who cares about Thanksgiving,” she said.  What?!  She practically insisted we take all the fall decorations down, and move right on to Christmas.  I wasn’t sure I was okay with this.  I hesitated, but finally caved due to our family’s schedule.  I decided we needed to take advantage of the time off we have this week as a family, rather than rush and stress over getting the house decorated for Christmas, as we get ready to head back to work.  I felt good about my decision, and still do.  It’s what worked out best for everyone this year.  But it did cause me to reflect on our decision.

While I don’t mind decorating a little earlier than usual, I want to be sure that we don’t skip right over the value of Thanksgiving.  To me, Thanksgiving creates an opportunity to spend extended amounts of time with family that we don’t regularly have time for, and enrich relationships.  It’s a time for enjoying mouth-watering food, great conversation, and reflecting on the many blessings in our lives.  It’s a time to truly stop and consider, “What am I thankful for?”

I’m thinking it is wise to get into this mindset of gratitude and thanksgiving, especially prior to heading into the Christmas season, which can easily turn into a gift giving frenzy; especially when you have young children.  We all love giving and receiving gifts, it’s important to show others you love and care for them, but with all the focus on gifts and over-spending that can sometimes happen in today’s American culture, there’s potential to subtly turn your focus away from all that you were just thankful and grateful for, toward all your wants, or perceived lack.

Whenever we begin to lose focus on what’s most important, we can reign it back in.  The Bible gives us wisdom in how to do this.  It instructs us to, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name” (Psalm 100:4).  When we give God praise for who He is, and thank Him for all He has done for us, we are opening the gate to more of His presence, and the fullness of joy that comes from entering in.

My point here is not to debate when it is the right time to decorate, but rather to point out that in taking some time to be thankful this holiday season, and praise God for your many blessings, you will see the goodness of God in the midst of your circumstances.  This is true whether or not things are “good” in your life, or “bad.”  It’s true whether you have plenty, or are in want.  He is a good Father who loves to give good gifts to His children.  I encourage you, enter into His presence with Thanksgiving, and be abundantly filled.

“And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours” (Isaiah 61:7).

Now, can someone please pass me the turkey and stuffing, the mashed potatoes and gravy, the cranberry sauce and crescent rolls, the green bean casserole, and sweet potatoes?  And then bring on the pumpkin pie!