I have no recollection of ever reading the official "Thanksgiving day proclamation" given so very long ago. I don't remember it being presented in school, or driven home in history class. I bet you remember the same things as I do....Pilgrims and Indians, maize and vegetables, cornucopias and large crowds gathered 'round tables.
Now, I realize those things are all a part of it, going way back into our nations history, but....
Apparently Pilgrim Edward Winslow was present at the first Thanksgiving Festival and had this to say after listing out the sparse bounty that they had in those days of celebration.
"And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD WE ARE... FAR FROM WANT." December 1621
Here is a little history lesson which gets us from that December to the holiday becoming national.
from the Christian Answers network.
"Much of the credit for the adoption of a later ANNUAL national Thanksgiving Day may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey's Lady's Book. For thirty years, she promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day, contacting President after President until President Abraham Lincoln responded in 1863 by setting aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving. Over the next seventy-five years, Presidents followed Lincoln's precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day. Then, in 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday."
Stick with me just a little while longer I know this is a wordy post.
Please take time to read this short proclamation put forth by Washington in the year 1789. It is so heartfelt and beautiful.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interposition's of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
I have for all these years missed the significance of this day.
I am a grateful person.
I am a thankful person...and by default this thankfulness always goes to my God.
Who else am I gonna thank for all the wonder in my life?
But the default button was not pushed when it came to setting up this day.
It was pure and true acknowledgment of God and being thankful to Him that this day is to be about.
Specifically setting aside time for thanks to God.
I know for me....in the past I have spent my thanksgiving days trying to be thankful, have a thankful spirit, say thankful words etc.
Having a spirit of thankfulness but not directing that thankfulness to God, just being thankful generally...not specifically. There have been times in my life when there was a certain hollowness to my thankful attitude, a shallowness because that thankfulness did not intentionally go to God.
Maybe having that default is a strength and not a weakness, but I want my acknowledgment of God to be more than just one of those things I do because it is what I have always done.
This my 40th year of life is where I raise my Ebenezer.
This is the year when I say with intention and purpose,
God...it is all about you and how you bless my life and my country and my family.
It is you who controls the ebb and flow of my life and in you I wholly trust in all of those times.
This is the year I mark this spot and say "here by thy great help I have come".
Take time today to raise your Ebenezer, your open dedication and thankfulness for God's faithfulness in your life.
