A few weeks ago I was in a store when I was bombarded with all the Christmas music I could ever hope for. The merry tunes about snow, sleds, and Santa so perfectly matched the decorations that I temporarily thought I had somehow missed Thanksgiving.
I suddenly caught myself feeling a bit sad that folks are so quick to dive into Christmas when we haven’t even experienced Thanksgiving. Case in point is the fact that the city of Raleigh held their annual Christmas parade yesterday – a full five days before Thanksgiving!
Now don’t get me wrong: I am perhaps the biggest fan of Christmas you’ll ever meet. I absolutely adore the lights, the trees, the songs, the giving of gifts, and the time spent with loved ones. It truly is a magical time of year that I thoroughly enjoy.
With that said, I will not allow my passion for all things Christmas to cause me to skip over the blessings of Thanksgiving. Now a mere four days away (where did this year go?), Thanksgiving is the perfect precursor to Christmas.
Whereas Christmas tends to lead to a focus on gifts and other material things, Thanksgiving is all about time spent with our loved ones. It is a very special day during which we get to enjoy each other’s company without having to deal with some of the stresses (mainly financial) that accompany Christmas.
Yes, Christmas is coming. It’ll be here before you know it. Just like you, I can hardly wait. But for now, let’s fully embrace the joy that is headed our way this Thursday.
This year, I hope you’ll join me as I slow down and smell the turkey.
The Music Mom: Eileen Carey 