Light and Simple for Thanksgiving
By Sharon L. Reidenbach

Hours are spent on the Thanksgiving Day preparations: from the traditional to individual unique favorites. Or, we spend our days cooking the perfect meal, with all the trimmings, for the homeless shelters. And those on fixed income, or a single parent; creative energies go into fielding a festive table with less extravgent items. However, whoever we are, or where, without realizing it, we wait for the, “thank you”, “way to go,” or “tasted great.”
However, after extended efforts, whether lavish, or a creative alternative, deep down we wonder why aren’t those few words enough? It’s because inwardly, unknown to us, our bodies are geared for the physical side of “thank you”.
Do you want to become a drug pusher? Bodily hugs are called the #1 miracle drug. Read what Virginia Satri, a family therapist told NPR. “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.” Wow, raise your hand if you’ve received twelve hugs today ~ or any day ~ or on a special occasion like Thanksgiving?
In I Thessalonians 5:26, the people were encouraged to: “Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss” (NKJV). The giver, and the receiver, benefit from hugs. They build trust, happiness, self-esteem, relieves tension, lowers blood pressure, helps with loneliness, and tension, to name a few!
It doesn’t make any difference if we serve a hot dog, a turkey, or ham on Thanksgiving. This season let’s extend to our loved ones and guests what Paul exhorts us to do: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love’ (Romans 12:10).
What’s important is our relationship, not the festive trappings. Christ deeply desires a closer communion with us, too: “But You, oh Lord, are a God full of compassion, and grace” (Psalm 86:15).
May we remember, as we say grace this Thanksgiving, how He reached out to us with the biggest hug ever given: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). A hug is spiritual renewable energy for the soul sustained through Christ’s example. It’s never depleted like our natural resources. Happy Hugging, Thanksgiving!