11.22.07
The giving of thanks…
“Thank you!” - such simple words, and yet so often omitted from our daily life. Humans seem to be ungrateful by nature. Look at the example of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus. Only one returned to say “Thank you!” - even though their lives had been changed incalculably.
Well, today marks the official day of thanks in the United States of America. On this day millions of people will gather with family and friends to eat a hearty meal, watch football and spend time together. And a few of them will even take time to remember WHY this day was set aside. Some will take the time to not only be “thankful” but to remember to Whom they should be thankful and WHY they should be thankful.
Unfortunately, many have sought to undermine our nation’s heritage. Some have built up myths around our heritage - and that’s as bad as the former. And yet, there is much to be grateful and thankful for in our heritage. Our nation was indeed founded by men who believed in our God and Creator. This is particularly shown by the first declaration of a day of thanks as proclaimed by the Continental Congress in 1877.
Thanksgiving Proclamation 1777 by the Continental Congress:
IN CONGRESS
November 1, 1777
FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success:
It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth “in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.”
And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.
Oh that our leaders and our nation would turn back to He Who gave us our freedom. Oh that on this day - and always - we would remember to give thanks to Him for the great mercies and blessings He has heaped on us.