God provides us with 365.25 days per year. We set aside just one of those days to say thanks.
I know that many of you recognize the importance of prayers of thanksgiving and utter them often. But many Americans do not – even on the official Thanksgiving Day.
This goes along with the widespread believe that God didn’t create us but our ancestors created themselves from some primordial ooze. Of course, our ancestors were less self-assured and thought God helped.
Setting aside time to thank God for His many gifts (like life) is nothing new. Tradition has it that this started with the Pilgrims and Indians in 1621. (I admit that I prefer this story to revisionist accounts that portray the Pilgrims as marauding, disease-infested savages bent on destroying the Native Americans.)
George Washington declared a day of thanksgiving in 1789, after which the official observances usually occurred at the state level.
Abraham Lincoln declared a national holiday of Thanksgiving for the last Thursday of November in 1863 – a rather trying time in his life and that of the nation.
Declaring this event became an annual event for American Presidents until Congress decided to create a permanent holiday in 1941. This freed up time for subsequent Presidents to conduct an annual pardoning of a turkey so it didn’t become Thanksgiving dinner, although there is considerable debate on which President actually started this vital tradition.
Americans, generally speaking, believe they invented everything of true and lasting value in the world. And certainly we have brought forth some useful products and services. But giving thanks to God goes back a long way:
• For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. — Nehemiah 12:46
• When they had accomplished these things, with hymns and thanksgivings they blessed the Lord who shows great kindness to Israel and gives them the victory. — 2 Maccabees 10:38
• Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. — Psalm 50:14
• I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praise with thanksgiving. My prayer was heard. — Sirach 51:11
• You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. — 2 Corinthians 9:11
• Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving. — Ephesians 5:4
• Saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.” — Revelation 7:12
While Americans didn’t inventing giving thanks, Americans appear to be trying hard to un-do the concept of thanksgiving. Much of the population has no experience of my idea of a day of Thanksgiving: family gathering, prayer, warm conversation, good food and deep sense that no matter what problems we face, we can handle them with God.
For some people, Thursday (aka Thanksgiving) will be just another shopping day that is part of what has become “Black Friday Week.” Many folks won’t stop to say thanks because they are busy shopping for another holiday they don’t fully appreciate (aka Christmas).
As for me, I try to remember to thank God for his many gifts each day. My life is far from perfect, so sometimes my prayers of thanksgiving are diminished prayers of “why”?
But next Thursday will be all about Thanksgiving to God…and turkey, ham, yams and pie (thank you God).
