"Deck the halls with boughs of --" *insert record scratch here*

Wait what? Hold up folks. I think we are forgetting a little something.

Now that the excitement of Halloween is over and all of the children are gobbling up their candy, I have seen numerous Facebook posts about how Halloween is over and it is time to put up the Christmas tree. But aren't we forgetting about a pretty important day in between (two important days if you are a penny pincher like myself)?

If you have not gotten the hint by now, the holiday of which I speak is Thanksgiving. This is arguably one of the most important holidays of the year and not just because of grandma's heavenly turkey. It is a time for gathering family together (sometimes not the best idea but it's still important once in awhile), and expressing what you are thankful for within your own life.

My parents have always told me to express gratitude because the world owes you nothing (not even Black Friday folks so enjoy it). I would sometimes even get a little annoyed with their "attitude of gratitude" speeches, but at the end of the day I have become a more gracious person because of it. Manners will take you far in life and Thanksgiving is a time to not only have manners (though this really helps dinners run smoothly), but to also remember the kind deeds and gifts from God that you have received throughout the year. It gives you an opportunity to consciously renew your gracious spirit and have the important experience of growing through gratitude.

Don't get me wrong, I am stoked for Christmas (and yes I write out Christmas but that is for a different conversation). I am ecstatic to see people open gifts from me and open my gifts from them and eat all of that deliciously scrumptious food that my family makes. But can we truly be thankful if we haven't experienced the true feeling of gratitude. We should not be living holiday to holiday (and certainly not skipping holidays). We should be enjoying the present and be thankful for the gifts that we and our families have been given. The gift of life, the gift of creativity and talent, the gift of potential, the gift of freedom, and greatest of all, the gift of Christ.

I think that Thanksgiving was strategically placed before Christmas to help us remember to be thankful for what we have before we expect more.

With the Christmas decorations going up around the mall I work in, around stores on the street, and Christmas specials coming out early without so much as a mention of Thanksgiving, I believe that Thanksgiving is a dying holiday. By all means, disagree. But I challenge myself along with everyone who reads this to have an "attitude of gratitude" this holiday season and think about what you are thankful for. Even if it's something as simple as being alive, that is a truly wonderful gift in itself.

Thanksgiving 1863- ___.

Will we be the generation to fill in the blank?