The need to celebrate Thanksgiving

"Christmas decorations are abundantly displayed in stores and Thanksgiving has yet to arrive!" is a phrase I hear a lot. I too share the nostalgia of that sometimes-forgotten holiday. Regardless of the wonder of the Christmas season, I like to first celebrate our Thanksgiving holiday, recognizing the need to give God ample thanks for all he has given me.

Thanksgiving is a part of fall, my favorite season. I gasp in awe at the changing colors of leaves as they twist and flutter before falling to the ground. Strolling along sidewalks and roads, I listen to the crunch of dried foliage and acorns. Squirrels dash up and down tree trunks scurrying to be the first to grab a bite of food.

A few days ago some friends and I took a road trip to a wildlife refuge. It was too early for the geese to light and feed there, but nevertheless we enjoyed the scenic leaves turning colors of orange, red, yellow and brown. As we rode along, a friend remarked she had recently driven into the hills. While journeying up and then down and around hills and turns, she felt she was living inside a painting. Both sides of the road were heavily laden with the rich shades of autumn. It was like God had taken a brush and carefully painted each leaf with precision.

The autumn air even carries its own fragrance. Unlike the flowery smell of spring, it exudes a dusty, rustic scent -- yet clean, crisp and exhilarating. All these signs are reminiscent of fall -- the entrance to the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony faced many hardships, leading to their celebration of the harvest in 1621. In particular, they celebrated their freedom of religion. In their joy they invited the friendly Indian chief, Massasoit, who brought 90 braves to the feast, which lasted three days. The fourth Thursday in November was later proclaimed as Thanksgiving Day to commemorate reasons for which people were grateful. I wondered why all people, now, weren't more motivated to celebrate. Since food is so plentiful for most Americans, we take its supply for granted and seem to forget we can thank God for other things. Good health, friends, housing, jobs and family are all reasons for rejoicing.

I have wonderful childhood memories of Thanksgiving Day at home. I can still smell the spicy scent of mom's steaming hot pumpkin pie and see the mouthwatering browned turkey placed on the table. Those delicacies always aroused my appetite. The turkey was served with cornbread stuffing. Sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans and potatoes were also on the menu. Dad and Mom enjoyed every moment because all their kids were there at the table. The meal always began with a Protestant blessing from my grandmother, Annie Russ, or a Catholic one from my dad.

When weather permitted, my brother went quail hunting on those usually chilly, hazy, Thanksgiving afternoons. Christmas was seldom mentioned on that day. We simply enjoyed being with family -- eating, conversing and occasionally napping. Others sometimes watched the football game after dinner.

The wonderful offerings of the fall and Thanksgiving season are too spectacular and important to overlook -- allowing the premature, commercialized Christmas season to overshadow them. The day after Thanksgiving is considered the busiest shopping day of the year and many eagerly await the Christmas sales. But rather than shopping, I intend to focus on recalling and thanking God for his gifts. I feel appreciative to God every day, but I want to prioritize my gratitude on Thanksgiving Day.

Ellen Shuck is director of religious education at St. Mary's Cathedral.