In 1789, George Washington gave the First Thanksgiving Proclamation. It is written as follows:
“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefit, and humbly implore His protection, aid and favors. . .
“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, and for all the Great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.”
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” Psalms 100:4
“Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7
God’s Word is replete with Scripture about gratefulness and thankfulness. Gratitude….. Gratitude for all blessings that He gives us every day. Christians of all people, should ever be mindful of, and grateful to, Him. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” Cicero
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .”
Ephesians 5:20
“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He hath bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.”
Isaiah 63:7
On this day, assigned by our first president, George Washington, may we, as we gather together with our families and friends, remember always to be grateful for the bountiful blessings that He so richly has given our country. May we also remember those that have died on battlefields to protect our freedom, so that we could celebrate this day in peace. We often in our daily lives take our blessings for granted, never thinking that without constant vigilance, prayer, and trust in Him, that we may not always have freedom to enjoy those blessings. Remember Him always! Give thanks to Him from Whom all blessings flow! To God be the Power, Glory and Honor forever, and may He watch over this great nation!
“I am not a napper, and do not even sleep well at night. But here, in this chair on Thanksgiving Day, it is automatic, certain. Maybe I should steal the chair from my mama’s and take it to live with me all the time. Then at least, I could hear all the news at home.
I want to hear it all, swirling around me, assuring me that no matter what happens in this uncertain world, the things that truly matter, things here, are alright.” ~ Rick Bragg
Eileen Light