Thanksgiving is a US holiday that is largely focused on giving thanks. I don’t know about you, but this year, with Thanksgiving only three weeks away, I’m struggling. Current events in the world are heartbreaking and scary (ie war). Family relations and expectations around the holidays weigh heavily. And I’m exhausted from all of my busyness. And it’s not even November yet.

It’s not that I lack gratitude, but sometimes the weight of the reality of living in this broken world weighs heavy on my heart. Holidays in general can be challenging, and we can easily fall into the trap of feeling like we must put on a brave, smiling face while our hearts are heavy. I want to honor and acknowledge all of you for whom this particular holiday is hard, especially this year.

To do so, I have to first recognize and lament over the Indigenous peoples who lived on this land prior to its colonialization and the generations of abuse and bloodshed that were inflicted upon them since the colonists first arrived here and forcibly asserted their belief that they were entitled to inhabit a land that was not theirs. Turning a blind eye does not erase what has happened and how the Indigenous communities continue to be impacted. I truly believe God asks us to, instead, sit with the truth of the past and let that awaken our hearts to lament and repentance.

Lament and repentant prayer are the appropriate responses to all of the injustice in this fallen world. Sit with the sorrow, grief, and pain, and bring it all to God, seeking His forgiveness. This time of lament prepares our hearts to connect with God in a way that recognizing the truth can only do. Through our lament and weeping, we can experience new joy, His joy.

As Latasha Morrison wrote in her book Be the Bridge, "As agents of reconciliation, it's never too late for us to acknowledge and lament racial injustice. It's never too late to understand the historical depth of racism and ask God to show us His mercy and heal us."

Will you join me in lamenting over the painful history of this country?

Before you carve your turkey, please take a moment to educate yourself on the dark history of this holiday and the abhorrent treatment of indigenous peoples, starting at the first Thanksgiving.

But don't stop there.

You may or may not know that I am also part of the monthly Prayer Day team for Infinitum, one of the many initiatives of the Canadian-based Boundless ministry. I had the immense pleasure of helping to facilitate October's prayer day honoring Indigenous Peoples Day. We were blessed to have Terry and Darlene Wildman join us. They make up the Grammy-nominated and Nammy awarded musical duo RainSong. Terry (Ojibwe and Yaqui) also happens to be the lead translator, general editor, and project manager of the First Nations Version of the Bible. He is the founder of Rain Ministries and serves as the director of spiritual growth and leadership development for Native InterVarsity.

Not only did Terry read aloud some of his unpublished First Nations Version translations of the Psalms, but Darlene played her flute to accompany him in the experience. It was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes to hear him talk about how native cultures prayed through song and dance. My heart broke as he spoke about how the entitlement and prejudices of the early settlers resulted in the bloody decimation of entire tribes across this country and, with them, attempted genocide of their many beautiful traditions.

There was so much beauty amongst the tears, a picture of lament in this season of Thanksgiving.

So, once you're done carving your turkey with your family and giving thanks to God for all of His blessings, in honor of Native American Heritage Day on November 24th, I would like to encourage you to engage in this prayer practice from the Infinitum Prayer Day resources:

Write A Land Acknowledgement prayer and take it with you to pray it on a prayer walk:

Research and Awareness: 

Locate what tribal lands you live on here. Begin by researching the Indigenous peoples whose traditional lands you want to acknowledge. Learn about their history, culture, and contributions to the area. 

Introduction: 

Start your prayer with a respectful and humble introduction. Acknowledge your presence on the traditional lands of the Indigenous peoples. 

Acknowledgment: 

Acknowledge the specific Indigenous nation(s) or tribes whose land you are on. You can usually find this information through local resources, tribal websites, or by contacting local Indigenous organizations. 

Express Gratitude: 

Express gratitude for the stewardship of the land by Indigenous peoples throughout history. Recognize the deep connection they have with the land. Ask God to bring to mind a verse that it aligns with the message of respect, humility, and gratitude for the people of the land and incorporate it in your prayer. 

Express Repentance:

While the bloodiest of these atrocities against Indigenous people throughout history pre-date us, humble your heart and repent for your own sinfulness and selfishness.

Unity and Reconciliation: 

Pray for unity and reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous communities. Ask for guidance in fostering understanding and cooperation. 

Closing: 

Conclude the prayer with a respectful closing, emphasizing your commitment to honoring and respecting the land and its Indigenous stewards. 

*Remember that land acknowledgment is an ongoing commitment to respecting Indigenous peoples and their connection to the land. It's essential to approach this practice with sincerity, humility, and a genuine desire for reconciliation and understanding.

***My name is Jennifer, and this is my digital land acknowledgment. I'm coming in from the lands of the Arapahoe, Ute, Cheyenne, and the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ communities. Colonially known as Denver, Colorado. I respectfully acknowledge the unceded and ancestral territories of the Skwxwúmesh (Squamish) Nation and the traditional keepers of their land. I want to say thank you for allowing me to live, work, and play on your lands.

Please join me in this prayer of acknowledgment and lament written by Elizabeth Behrens from the book “Be the Bridge”:

“Lord, as we become aware of the intensity of the [historic racism in this world], our hearts are broken. Help us not to rush from this place of hurting to triumphalism or repair but rather lament as you call us to do. May our lament be a form of worship, a joining of our hearts to yours, as we grieve the lack of your kingdom justice here on earth. Strengthen us for this path, as without you, the overwhelming depth of the problems that must be addressed and acknowledged would be devastating. We know that you mourn with us and comfort us as we mourn with one another. In Christ’s holy name, amen.”

Amen and amen,

Jennifer Axcell, Founder and Champion of Rest