Thanksgiving: More than Turkey and Football

     Let's talk turkey.   Thanksgiving dinner is within sight, and it happens to be one of my favorite occasions of the year.   My thanksgiving dinner menu is very simple.   The turkey is slow cooked over night and carved just before the meal.   White meat and dark meat are separated to different sides of the serving plate for the convenience of the more picky eaters.   A can of corn is opened and heated up, whole kernel please; not that other kind that looks like gravy was poured on top of it (creamed corn).

     That brings me to the dressing.   The dressing is a cornbread style dressing of which my mother happens to be the absolute best at preparing.   One year, we were served Thanksgiving dinner at our house for some friends.   I made a special trip to Oklahoma to get some of my mother's cornbread dressing and brought back a full pan to Dallas for our meal.   Other than the turkey, corn, and dressing, all I need are some good rolls, a plate of deviled eggs, and a pitcher of sweet tea.   Anybody else feeling hungry right now?

     My family usually sits down to eat around 1:00 PM.   The television is kept on so we can keep tabs on the football games.   The Dallas Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving Day, and their game is usually the 3:00 game.   By the way, you know why there is a hole in the roof of Texas Stadium don't you; it's so God can watch His favorite team!   Anyway, the meal is planned so that our bellies are full, dessert has been served, and tables have been cleared just in time for everyone to sit down and enjoy the game.  

     Watching the Cowboy game on Thanksgiving is an experience in itself.   My family would always yell and scream at the television as if they believed the referees, the coaches, and even the players could hear what they were saying.   “Look out...   Don't give the ball to that guy anymore...   Call timeout, call timeout...   Come on, that was not interference; I could see that from here!”   There's no telling how many games we helped them win over the years with our armchair quarterbacking!

     Sometimes Thanksgiving comes and goes so quickly and with such chaos that I find myself later that same evening asking myself, “What just happened here?”   Everybody showed up, we ate, we watched football, and then everybody disappeared!   I don't remember hearing or saying anything about being thankful.   This is supposed to be “Thanksgiving” holiday, not “turkey day” or “football day”!  

     This situation needs to change.   Here are some practical ideas on how to make the holiday more meaningful.   First, set the tone of the day by sending out an invitation, by card or email, that paints a picture of a solemn day of remembering and being thankful.   I know of one family that asks each family member to bring a card to the meal with some things written down that they are thankful for.   This at least gets people thinking about something other than food and football!   Second, turn the TV off, at least during the meal.   If you are not able to work in any religious ideas of thankfulness, perhaps you can at least accomplish some good fellowship and sharing around the table without commercial interruptions.   Finally, plan a family activity to start after the football game is over.   Break out a board game like Monopoly, Scrabble, or Sorry.   Find that deck of Uno Cards!   If you're not into games, take whoever will go out to a movie, or just plan to go for a walk; we could all stand an early start at working off some of those extra calories!

     I am not naïve enough to think that turkey will ever go away, or that football will lose some of its fervor and enthusiasm.   I am hopeful, though, that we can “bring back” the idea of being thankful and use this day as an opportunity to restate our values and priorities and set a good example for our younger children.   Happy Thanksgiving everybody!