The president of the United States continued his pattern of using key holidays to lob false accusations at his opponents and enemies, this time throwing in a slur that drew international headlines. In his Thanksgiving Day post on Truth Social,…
MAGA Thanksgiving may implode like a deep-fried turkey
There are indications this year’s MAGA family Thanksgiving gathering may be contentious. Pre-Thanksgiving arguments and disagreements threaten to spill into scraps and splits at the family meal. After more than 10 years of party loyalty and unity, the MAGA family…
A different kind of Thanksgiving gratitude
Over the last couple of weeks, I sat down to write my Thanksgiving message several times, only to scrap every draft. Try as I may, I find myself incapable of penning some sappy tribute to the season. Don’t get me…
Thanksgiving Children’s Picture Books That Help Explain Religious Freedom
When we read aloud to young children — ones who cannot yet read for themselves — we are shaping how they learn to look at the world. Charlotte Mason insisted that children must be given living books: Narratives shaped by…
A committee of one
On Thanksgiving Day, when my sons and I sit down for dinner, we will be joined by a gentleman who spent the past 12 years living the harrowing life of an unhoused person. While living on the streets, he suffered…
One tip for finding peace and gratitude now
As we approach Thanksgiving, I have been thinking about all the things for which I am grateful. Admittedly, this can be a challenge during times of political upheaval and uncertainty. Like so many other people around the country, those in…
The true reason for the first Thanksgiving is just as relevant today
Growing up, many of us were taught the first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, by a group of Pilgrims and members of the Wampanoag tribe. Some of us even held classroom reenactments of the event, donning funny…
Two roads diverged in a cold food court
Ninety percent of my dissertation was written in the food court at the mall. I’m an extreme extrovert. Prolonged silence exhausts me. Plus, the irregular noise of an ant walking greatly distracts me. So, crowded restaurants and coffee shops are…
What are you wearing to Thanksgiving dinner this year?
You’ve heard of Hot Girl Summer. You’ve heard of Christian Girl Autumn. Tis the season for the Thanksgiving Outfit. Back in 2016, as many American women remember well, the brown button-up skirt made its way across stores and into our…
Three stories from Jesus about the danger of hierarchy and gratitude
Remember the parable where Jesus warned against thankfulness in corporate worship? It’s a well-known parable in Luke 18, the first in a trilogy of scenes that question our assumptions about status and blessing in relationship with others. In the third…
What if Thanksgiving were a time to celebrate the natural creation?
Christian churches in the United States often take advantage of national holidays to communicate particular theological points. For example, Memorial Day and Veterans Day provide opportunities to celebrate the idea of Jesus sacrificing his life on the Cross for spiritual…
Mitch Albom: ‘God can answer your prayers sometimes with something that breaks your heart’
This Thanksgiving, broaden your view on thankfulness. I love Thanksgiving. In fact, next to Christmas, it’s my favorite holiday. I love everything about it — the sounds, the smells, and, of course, the food. Would it even be Thanksgiving without…