An Everyday Holiday
It's great that America has its Thanksgiving holiday. How wonderful it is to have a special day that isn’t focused on getting gifts, but rather giving thanks for what we already have.
For many years, we enjoyed this American tradition via dinners with the Murrells when they lived in Manila. I sure loved the roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, pecan and pumpkin pies! They preferred white meat while we liked dark, so everyone was happy! Expressing thanks to God for each one was always the best part.
One Thanksgiving, I dressed my whole family in native American-Indian attire, complete with headgears made of feathers, fringy outfits, and face paint (after all, we were the “natives” of our country). So when the Murrells opened their front door, they were completely surprised! I would have even DIY-ed and brought a teepee if I had the time. One of their guests, a blonde American student, was also invited. So before we entered, I lightly tied up the arms of the “pale face” as a gift for the Murrell family. : D
This gave me an idea. Since the Philippines has its own history, I wanted to have a uniquely Filipino holiday of thanksgiving. I thought, “our family name is Bonifacio, why not have a special holiday on November 30?”
"Let November 30 be our family's special ‘thanksgiving day’!” I declared. After all, it already is an official nation-wide holiday dedicated to Andres Bonifacio, one of our country’s heroes.
My family is somewhat used to my wacky ideas, so this time my dress code was “Dress like a Katipunero” for our new thanksgiving day. (Philippine Trivia: Andres Bonifacio was the head of the Katipunan, a secret revolutionary group during the war. He was known to be a fearless leader, outspoken, but rough on the edges.)
So guests came in camisa chinos (plain white tees), loose red pants, bare feet, cloth bands around their heads, while wielding menacing bolo knives and itaks made of tinfoil and cardboard, complete with “bloody smears”. Some of the girls came in long skirts. I had a huge painted Katipunan flag and cooked up native Pinoy food like chicken tinola, beef bulalo and daing na bangus—food fit for a brave Katipunero hero.
After the feast, I gathered everyone, and hauled out this heavy coffee table book. For a dramatic effect, I darkened the room, lit candles, and started reading manuscripts about the Katipunan. There we were, huddled in the dark, reading by candlelight, dressed in our vintage outfits.
I was trying so hard to give this activity a “holy, happy, thanksgiving-y kind of atmosphere”, but was failing miserably.
“Mom this is so weird,” one of my sons blurted out.
“Yeah mom!” another son added from the shadows. “It’s like you’re forming a cult!”
“What is it you’re trying to achieve anyway?” asked my perplexed hubby.
“Well, I just wanted us to have our own version of thanksgiving!” I replied, equally frustrated.
“Honey, you don’t need to have a special holiday to be grateful,” spoke the wise hubby. “You can be grateful anytime.”
And yep. . . he was right.
So we blew out the candles, turned on the lights, became normal again, and did just that. We simply took turns that November 30, saying “I’m grateful for you ______________ because of ______________.” I’m glad that God can teach me secrets through my family, despite my wacky ideas.
Secret: You don’t need a special holiday to be grateful. It's not the day that matters, but the spirit of thankfulness.
According to the Bible, when is the best time to be grateful?
1. Always. So gratitude becomes a daily habit, instead of a yearly one.
“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.” Philemon 1: 4
2. In all circumstances. So gratitude becomes a decision, and not just an emotion.
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 18
3. For everything. So we can see God behind the scene in all situations.
“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. . .” Ephesians 5: 20
So Happy Thanksgiving EveryDay, everyone!
Whether it’s the third Thursday of November that you celebrate, or November 30’s Bonifacio Day, or whichever day you hold special, may your whole year be a thanksgiving offering, pleasing to the Lord.
See you next Thursday! : >
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