Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18 Such is the heart of Thanksgiving Day, our homegrown holiday. The origins of the national holiday bears repeating, especially in a day when our nation’s history is being rewritten.
The day began with the embarkment of a ship called the Mayflower with 120 God-fearing passengers on board. It took 66 days to cross the Atlantic, landing first on Cape Cod then making its way toward Plymouth, Massachusetts. Only half of them survived that first winter, the others perished from disease, the cold, and harsh conditions. As that first harvest season approached in 1621, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Governor William Bradford declared that they should hold a three-day celebration of thanksgiving. This was the very first recorded Thanksgiving celebration to the God of the Bible on American soil. He included in his proclamation an invitation to the Wampanoag Indians, a group of Indians who helped to save the settlers by teaching them how to hunt and farm. I might add, it was a relationship, a very positive relationship, that was sustained for over fifty years.
We know from records that have been kept what the menu was during that three-day feast: lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squash, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leaks, eggs, cabbage and goat cheese. Interestingly, no mention at all is made of turkey. Neither is there mention of pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
In the year 1837, Sarah Hale, a magazine editor waged a campaign to get Congress and the President to establish Thanksgiving as an official national holiday.
Unbelievably, her efforts came to fruition on October 1863, when our nation was torn asunder by war. Wondering if we would survive as "one nation under God," Abraham Lincoln signed Thanksgiving into law as a national holiday saying it should be "a day of thanksgiving to God," and a day for all Americans – north and south, to pray, "to heal the wounds of the nation." Certainly, there was a need for this Thanksgiving Day with a nation so divided.
In the words of the writer, O. Henry: "Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American."
Thanksgiving has come to mean so many things, but at its heart, historically, a day dedicated for all to bow our head in thanks to God our Creator and Redeemer.
Sadly, for many the meaning of Thanksgiving Day has turned into something different as seen in the written sentiments of today’s “Thanksgiving Day Cards.” God is lost in the gatherings, ball games and feasting. Don’t believe me? Simply look inside a Thanksgiving Card and find that God is missing from the thanksgiving sentiment.
The words of the theologian Neil Plantinga come to mind, “It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular. It's a little like being married in general."
We know this was not the case for our founding fathers and the likes of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln who believed in God and acknowledged Him with gratitude for physical and spiritual blessings. For the gift of grain and rain. For the gift of Grace and mercy and forgiveness in His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Therefore, this Thanksgiving let’s take to heart the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians to “give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ for you."
Some of us may find it extremely hard to give thanks this year considering the economy and lack of direction and wisdom from those in power or because of personal hurt, harm, loss or grief.
But, like Habakkuk and Job and Luther and so many others, we can choose to give thanks to God who gave His all for us in the cross of His Son.
This year, I will ponder the following words from a wise man, “Hem all your blessings with thankfulness that they never unravel." “Remember, pride slays thanksgiving. A proud person is rarely a thankful or a grateful person." I think that may be the key to why some live a life of thanksgiving where others do not.
And so, with humble hearts may we pray, “Thank you, dear God, for all you have given me. And thank you, dear God, for all you have taken away from me. And thank you, dear God, for all you have left me."
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, a “Happy Thanksgiving” to you from my heart and home to yours.
The day began with the embarkment of a ship called the Mayflower with 120 God-fearing passengers on board. It took 66 days to cross the Atlantic, landing first on Cape Cod then making its way toward Plymouth, Massachusetts. Only half of them survived that first winter, the others perished from disease, the cold, and harsh conditions. As that first harvest season approached in 1621, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Governor William Bradford declared that they should hold a three-day celebration of thanksgiving. This was the very first recorded Thanksgiving celebration to the God of the Bible on American soil. He included in his proclamation an invitation to the Wampanoag Indians, a group of Indians who helped to save the settlers by teaching them how to hunt and farm. I might add, it was a relationship, a very positive relationship, that was sustained for over fifty years.
We know from records that have been kept what the menu was during that three-day feast: lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squash, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leaks, eggs, cabbage and goat cheese. Interestingly, no mention at all is made of turkey. Neither is there mention of pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
In the year 1837, Sarah Hale, a magazine editor waged a campaign to get Congress and the President to establish Thanksgiving as an official national holiday.
Unbelievably, her efforts came to fruition on October 1863, when our nation was torn asunder by war. Wondering if we would survive as "one nation under God," Abraham Lincoln signed Thanksgiving into law as a national holiday saying it should be "a day of thanksgiving to God," and a day for all Americans – north and south, to pray, "to heal the wounds of the nation." Certainly, there was a need for this Thanksgiving Day with a nation so divided.
In the words of the writer, O. Henry: "Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American."
Thanksgiving has come to mean so many things, but at its heart, historically, a day dedicated for all to bow our head in thanks to God our Creator and Redeemer.
Sadly, for many the meaning of Thanksgiving Day has turned into something different as seen in the written sentiments of today’s “Thanksgiving Day Cards.” God is lost in the gatherings, ball games and feasting. Don’t believe me? Simply look inside a Thanksgiving Card and find that God is missing from the thanksgiving sentiment.
The words of the theologian Neil Plantinga come to mind, “It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular. It's a little like being married in general."
We know this was not the case for our founding fathers and the likes of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln who believed in God and acknowledged Him with gratitude for physical and spiritual blessings. For the gift of grain and rain. For the gift of Grace and mercy and forgiveness in His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Therefore, this Thanksgiving let’s take to heart the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians to “give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ for you."
Some of us may find it extremely hard to give thanks this year considering the economy and lack of direction and wisdom from those in power or because of personal hurt, harm, loss or grief.
But, like Habakkuk and Job and Luther and so many others, we can choose to give thanks to God who gave His all for us in the cross of His Son.
This year, I will ponder the following words from a wise man, “Hem all your blessings with thankfulness that they never unravel." “Remember, pride slays thanksgiving. A proud person is rarely a thankful or a grateful person." I think that may be the key to why some live a life of thanksgiving where others do not.
And so, with humble hearts may we pray, “Thank you, dear God, for all you have given me. And thank you, dear God, for all you have taken away from me. And thank you, dear God, for all you have left me."
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, a “Happy Thanksgiving” to you from my heart and home to yours.
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