Holy Days Worth Celebrating
The word holiday traces its roots to the Old English haligdaeg — meaning “holy day.” Originally, it descended directly from that sacred concept, though over time the change in pronunciation brought a change in meaning, so that many holidays today are no longer considered holy at all.
So the next time someone offers a generic “Happy Holidays,” feel free to smile and reply: “Happy Holy Day to you, too!” The meaning has been quietly twisted in the name of making sure no one is offended by a simple “Merry Christmas.” This kind of cultural overcorrection is worth noticing — not so long ago, greeting a customer with “Merry Christmas” wasn’t controversial in the least. If this trajectory continues, a wordless nod may eventually replace all seasonal goodwill altogether.
Thanksgiving is upon us — followed by Black Friday, then Support Your Local Small Business Saturday. What a season of Holy Days it is!
Mike took over the Thanksgiving dinner preparations early in our marriage. We discuss the meal planning together, and my response is almost always, “That sounds like a great idea” — which is honest, because my role is cleanup crew once the cooking is done.
The star of the show, the turkey, spends a spa night soaking in a special brine. Then come the sides: the wonderful creamed corn, potatoes au gratin, and stuffing made with corn tortillas — all part of what is, without question, the most perfect meal. Mike’s work in the kitchen is a labor of love for every person at that table. He is the reluctant chef, and he needs affirmation to know that his efforts are not in vain.
And then there is the gravy — mine. No one seems to notice that a small piece of my soul goes into this seemingly simple task. No one comments on the taste or the texture. It is simply expected, taken for granted. Gravy is gravy, right? Never mind that you simply cannot have turkey without it.
The table will be set with gold rim dishes from Target and turkey salad plates from Home Goods and I will bring out my crystal that I purchased for a song in Poland. I do not have 16 matching anything so we will do with what we have.
A Feast of Many Hands
The Appetizers and Salad: Jenny’s Department
The appetizers and salad are lovingly made by Jenny, our daughter-in-law. Her dressings are always homemade, and everyone looks forward to starting the meal with her finely chopped medley of fresh vegetables. Her appetizers are equally delicious — though, if honesty is required, some are easier to resist than others. The real danger is the tendency to fill up on extra carbs long before the main course even arrives.
Desserts: Sonja’s Domain
Sonja, our daughter, is in charge of desserts. Turtle cheesecake, pumpkin pie, pecan pie — and sometimes peanut butter balls. This year, she has her heart set on making everything miniature. The idea received a polite thumbs-up, but the enthusiasm comes with reservations. Mini means one serving, and on this particular day, one serving may simply not be sufficient for the kind of celebration that calls for a second — or third — helping. Two of each feels less like festivity and more like portion control. Here’s hoping she’ll reconsider before Thursday.
The Phenomenon Known as Food Coma
Has anyone suffered from a food coma? This is what happens when all the carbs arrive in the stomach simultaneously and battle for their rightful place. The internal conflict is so intense that it exhausts the body, producing drowsiness and a certain incoherence of thought. The only known antidote is a power nap — or, as some family members prefer, a mysterious disappearance followed by several hours of uninterrupted sleep. This particular form of excess is acceptable a handful of times a year. Any more than that, and one may be approaching a bona fide glutton.
A Word from Scripture
Scripture takes gluttony seriously — not as a quirk, but as a pattern with real consequences. Proverbs 23:21 (NABRE) warns: “For drunkards and gluttons come to poverty, and lazing about clothes one in rags.” Of course, a single Thanksgiving feast is a far cry from the lifestyle Scripture cautions against — and this day, surrounded by family and gratitude, is something else entirely.
(A note on the original text: the passage was cited as Proverbs 23:12 and described as being about “addition” — the correct verse is Proverbs 23:21, and the word is “addiction.” The NABRE text above reflects the accurate citation and translation.)
The Grace of Hospitality
Gathering so many people under one roof requires special graces — and a generous measure of love. As the hostess, the role of servant falls naturally into place: making sure every guest’s needs are met, every detail attended to. With sixteen guests expected, the quiet goal is to make each one feel the love of Christ simply by being present and cared for. Things do not always go perfectly — they rarely do — but when they don’t, the best response is to hold one’s tongue, smile, and trust that all will end well.
My Thanksgiving Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we invite You into our home to bless all who pass through these doors. May Your loving arms welcome each one of them; may they feel Your love and Your special graces.
Dear Lord, on this day set aside for thanksgiving, may we all come to realize how very blessed we are to have one another. May our words be filtered to be kind and sincere. Let no one feel unwelcome or out of place in our home — today and always.
Bless all who lovingly contributed to the making of this meal.
Amen.
