And now, a word from President Abraham Lincoln about Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is now here, and from this point on, we will eat, drink, and breathe Christmas. I don’t mean that we will be reflecting on the Christ’s birth, but we will be experiencing that commercial extravaganza, Christmas!

Commercial culture has pretty much hijacked every holiday. Christmas, instead of being about the birth of Jesus, is instead about Santa, Frosty, presents, and shopping till you drop. Easter, instead of being about the resurrection of Jesus, is about bunnies, eggs, and Spring Break.

But the one holiday that’s remained fairly untouched is Thanksgiving, although it’s quickly being encroached upon by "Black Friday."

Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at NPD Group, a retail research consultant, has said, "Retailers have basically ruined every holiday. They have commercialized every single holiday by creating a good reason to promote something and drive traffic."

But we as Christians should not lose the focus of Thanksgiving. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens" to be celebrated each year.

Giving thanks is something we are commanded to do again and again as Christians. For us, every day should be Thanksgiving (minus the turkey, etc.)! The Bible reminds us to "give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercies endure forever" (Psalm 136:1).

Now, if God ceases to be good, I suppose you can cease to give thanks. But since that will never happen, Scripture is commanding me to give thanks always.

So, have a blessed Thanksgiving!

P.S. – Don’t forget to set your scales back 10 pounds.