Give Thanks

David enjoying the fall leaves

Today as our nation prepares to celebrate Thanksgiving I reflect on how far we have gone from the original purpose and meaning. Today we gorge ourselves so that we can barely move, while we can't miss the game on television, then scour the ads to see what we can buy the next day. This is a far cry from the orginal Thanksgiving when in 1621 after a winter of starvation the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony were joined by the Wampanoags for three days to distribute food from the harvest and to celebrate. The first proclaimed day of Thanksgiving was in 1623 after improvements in prospects for this still struggling colony. This was a day of prayer and not feasting. After the American Revolution the first national Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed on November 26, 1789 by George Washington.

It is important that we acknowledge the true meaning of this uniquely American holiday. One of the praise choruses I love is Give Thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart;
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.

Give thanks with a grateful heart;
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.

And now let the weak say, "I am strong;"
Let the poor say, "I am rich."
because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give thanks!

This should be a day about God and not us, so take time and reflect on those who have come before us and endured hardships and sacrifices that we could never imagine. Take time to thank God for what we do have, not what we don't have from the latest ads. And give our children a sense of who we are as a nation and people. There is much to be thankful for.

The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.