A "habit" we have on this Day, or maybe a "more excellent way"

It has been a habit to on this day have turkey, and "feel" thankful, and express thankfulness, and think of the things that mean a great deal to us. It could be that "we" might wind up on a day like this at some point in the coming years, walking together, just the two of us, somewhere, perhaps on our way back to the house for dinner. Nevertheless we seem to have three of us this year, and of course the "grand cat" is here. She is indeed a nice addition to our little group. When I think back about Thanksgiving I remember "Turkey Dinners" of course. I remember years with the TV on football. I don't recall watching Football and in our early years it was just a reason why the dinner would be very late. Holidays in general can put one behind a mask. You can either bury or hide your concerns and or find your self in the "play" which the day becomes............. or you can withdraw and really see how many good things you have to be thankful for. Masks really close you in or let you become different than you really are. Even to hide out behind the mask and be thankful seems to close out those that you are thankful for. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was on TV for years. Maybe it still is? Woody, 50 feet high, would come down the street. Sometimes the T day dinner is with a larger group. Seems as though those years are memorable but then it is just nice to see lots of folks, I suppose. It is, or should be, a spiritual day. It ought not to be, I think, just a habit to express thanks this day but it ought to be just a time when more of how we feel is experienced and expressed. A book that I like a lot and have read and re read is "Pure in Heart" by Dallin Oaks. In it he lists the motives for why people serve. Service may be a real key in understanding how to relate to each other on a day like this. He offers 6 motives from "least to the best". Giving thanks, remembering, sharing, and service are what Thanksgiving is about, it would seem to me. In this list of motives for service he starts with the least important motive, Earthy Reward, and then progressing towards the one of most worth:

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Earthly Reward

Good Companionship

Fear of Punishment

Duty of Loyalty

Hope of Reward

Charity

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The sixth reason for service, Charity, is the highest of all. It is what the Apostle Paul called

"a more excellent way". (1 Corinthians 12:31)

Charity is "the pure love of Christ. The greatest reason of all for service is Charity.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels

and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass,

or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy,

and understand all mysteries,

and all knowledge: and though I have all faith,

so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity,

I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,

and though I give my body to be burned,

and have charity,

it profiteth me nothing.

(1 Corinthians 13 1-3)