Thanksgiving can be a peculiar experience for kids. As an adult, I love the holiday: the football, the food, and the parades with inflatable balloons make it a perfect day for creating memories. However, I can understand why children might feel differently. While they might appreciate the holiday for what it represents, the food often isn’t their favorite. Most of these dishes are served only once a year, and kids tend to prefer consistency and familiarity. When you bring out the green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, or sweet potato pie—who really wants to eat that? I remember a big debate from my childhood about whether stuffing should contain oysters. Every year, there would be two servings of stuffing labeled accordingly, and the lines were clearly drawn. The adults claimed that oysters added a rich depth of flavor—what we might call umami today—but as a six-year-old, I wasn’t eager to try something new.
Here’s the thing about unusual food: you have to try it. The only way to find out if you like sweet potato pie is to take a bite. The only way to determine if you prefer turkey with or without gravy is to try both. But try explaining that to a child staring at a bright orange dish. When you’re little, someone might make you eat it, but as you grow older, your preferences become more defined. I can tell you how great something is, but until you give it a chance, you might never fully believe me. Every Thanksgiving offers a smorgasbord of new things to try. Some people will stick to what they know, while others will venture into the unknown, perhaps discovering a world of delicious possibilities.
I think about spiritual disciplines in a similar way. Praying, singing, fasting, reading scripture, and memorizing it all benefit our Christian walk, but how often do we commit ourselves to these practices? Many treat Christianity like a child treats the food at Thanksgiving: they stick to the familiar and avoid trying new dishes. Many feel comfortable attending church services, but few delve deeper. If only they understood the wonderful benefits they are missing.
Psalm 34:8-15 says:
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
What man is there who desires life and loves many days,
that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.”
There are many who will never know just how fulfilling it is to seek God with all their hearts. They may catch glimpses of Him and discover some wonderful aspects of faith, but we are promised that the closer we draw to God, the closer He is to us; this intimacy enriches and enlivens our lives. We begin to see the benefits of a life centered around the Author of Life.
I wish I could convey the significance of these blessings to everyone. Those who have ears to hear will accept this advice and put it into practice. However, many will miss out on the blessings of a life devoted to God. They might consider attending a Sunday afternoon song service as an obligation or view a dedicated prayer life as burdensome. They may think of devoted Bible reading as monotonous, fasting as outdated, and memorization as unnecessary. I cannot force anyone to participate or appreciate these experiences; unfortunately, they will miss out on a richer existence. They have become picky consumers and will never truly experience the depth and richness of the life God has prepared for us.
Psalm 23:5-6
“You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.