A day to strengthen family connections, values, traditions
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln created Thanksgiving Day during a time he was trying to hold our nation together.
Today, the holiday is seen as a reminder of the Native American and pioneer families who, more than a century before Lincoln, gave thanks, by gathering and sharing the first food they harvested. As modern Americans, we, too, should be thankful because though we may not have everything we want, most of us have what we need.
For many people, Thanksgiving has become a day of food, fun and football, but it can also be a special time for families to reconnect and share their strength, stories and spiritual foundations.
In an era when the majority of families share meals only rarely - and when they do, it’s for barely 20 minutes - Thanksgiving provides a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with those most important to us and be reminded of our common values.
When I was a child, my parents viewed Thanksgiving as an occasion to gather our entire extended family.
My mother, who was originally from the Midwest, cooked only recipes that had been handed down in her family for generations. Her specialty was stuffing containing parts of the turkey we knew she hid from us, because we’d never have eaten them otherwise.
My father, who was originally from Pakistan, told stories of his life in the old country and how, after they married, Mom introduced him to hearty meals - such as roast turkey - of which he never tired. He reminded us that in Pakistan, food was not so abundant as in the U.S. His stories made us all feel thankful.
The day started early and ended very late as our relatives, amid nonstop eating, engaged one another in dialogue and debate.
Those long-ago Thanksgivings taught us to be more appreciative of one another, and of all of God’s bounties. My family continues that tradition today. Gratitude and appreciation are an integral part of being a Muslim; the Quran repeatedly emphasizes the importance of constantly thanking God for His help and blessings.
Many people enhance their Thanksgiving holiday by sharing it with people who, because of economics or distance, cannot spend the day with family and friends. Using the day to help others can be a wonderful display of thanks. There are many local shelters where people can volunteer to serve dinner on Thursday, and if you know of a friend or neighbor who is alone or struggling, perhaps you could invite that person over for a holiday meal.
As Thanksgiving Day grows near, I hope we will all take time to plan how we will gather with our families and to meditate on everything God has blessed us with.
Thanksgiving is enjoyable - the perfect combination of food, family and fun. But it also serves to strengthen our family bonds, our values and our traditions as a nation.
Aziz Junejo is host of “Focus on Islam,” a weekly cable-television show, and a frequent speaker on Islam. Readers may send feedback to faithcolumns@seattletimes.com