Happy Thanksgiving!
I love Thanksgiving. It signals the start of the Holiday Season and a time when we can get together with our families and eat ten times more than we should. Recently, I was in a meeting when somebody asked, “What is Thanksgiving really all about?” It brought back a memory from several years ago when I attended a grade school parent - teacher conference for my daughter. It was held in the middle of November and the school was adorned with pictures of Pilgrims, turkeys, and Native American Indians.
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Being the shy and retiring type, I asked the teacher what she was teaching my daughter about the meaning of Thanksgiving. She explained that they taught that the Pilgrims had endured numerous hardships and a very difficult winter, and they were thankful for the provisions that had sustained them. I nodded my head and then asked: “Who were the Pilgrims giving thanks to?”
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To make a long story short, she gave me a couple of nice - but incorrect answers. Basically, from her perspective the Pilgrims were thanking anybody, everybody and everything, except she never mentioned the Big “G” word - Big “G” as in God. So I thought it might be time for a “teachable moment” - which is why I waited until after the conference was over.
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Back in 1676 when the First Thanksgiving Proclamation was issued, the Pilgrims had experienced what could only be described as harsh conditions. (Think about it…no IPhones, Internet, TV’s and automobiles - just kidding). But despite these conditions:
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The First Thanksgiving Proclamation was issued on June 29, 1676. The Governing Council of Charlestown, MA, met to decide how they could express thanks for the good fortune they had experienced. As a result of this meeting they issued a proclamation which read, in part that, “The Council has set apart the 29th of June, as a day of solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for his goodness and favor …. and that He may behold us a people offering praise and thereby glorifying Him.”
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Our tradition for celebrating Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November was established by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. In the midst of the Civil War, when things were looking very bleak, Abraham Lincoln issued the Thanksgiving Proclamation which read:
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“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come … The Population has steadily increased, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
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No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God… It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, … to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens… and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”
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President Lincoln decreed that on the fourth Thursday in each November, we should come together as a Nation, regardless of our race, creed, or nationality and give thanks to the “Big G” God for His blessing on our Country. Seemed like a good idea in 1863; seems like an even better idea in 2009.
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Folks, 2009 has been a tough year for many people. The economy and overall uncertainty has many people wondering: “What’s next?” Against that backdrop, it may be a difficult Holiday for some families, but hopefully we can take a moment to reflect on and be thankful for the important blessings in life such as the country we live in, the freedom we enjoy and the relationships we share.
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As you gather with friends and families, we hope that you too have much to be thankful for. And if you’re so inclined, please include our troops in your prayers. They protect the freedoms we all enjoy. Click here for A Thanksgiving Presentation remembering our Troops.
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Mike commented:
DLynch
Good point. Thanks for responding. Hadn't looked at it that way. One point though is that from a historical perspective, both Washington and Lincoln were in fact thanking the Big G God - not Allah. And clearly the Puritans were Protestants and in some instances were escaping religious persecution So shouldn't the schools be able to teach the true facts regarding this Holiday? Just a thought.
DLynch commented:
Hi Michael. As much as I agree that we should give thanks to God, I don’t think your daughters’ teacher was out of line. If anything, she could have lost her job if she were to use the big G Word. Would you feel the same if she would have said “Allah”? Doubtful. The good thing is your daughter has a Dad who can teach her about religion and God and all that you want about the greatness of God. Do you really want a stranger teaching our children about God…or any religious entity for that matter? And you might remind yourself that the Christian religion wasn’t the only one around back then. The teacher did the right thing. You may want to give thanks for that.