"Thankfulness Day"

Millions of families will be sitting today around a table filled with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and other traditional dishes. Inevitably, in many of these gatherings, someone will initiate a round of “what are you thankful for” discussion.

Around the nation, the media, public officials, and individuals will refer to today as “Turkey Day”, probably uncomfortable with the days history, while still mostly remembering the elements of “thankfulness” that are still commonly celebrated.

I think it’s important, however, that we not sit back and say “well isn’t that nice, they’re celebrating Thanksgiving because they’re being thankful and talking about it.”

Why don’t we instead challenge the culture by asking the simple question “to whom are we thankful, and for what?”

In short, we need to avoid the currently popular “thankfulness day” celebratory practices in favor of the spirit of the true Day of Thanksgiving.

We know that the “First Thanksgiving”, celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims, was held specifically to give thanks to God for the bountiful harvest and for His guiding hand in teaching them how to survive the coming winter. This wasn’t for them the beginning of an annual tradition, although we still view it as the “First Thanksgiving”. Why? Because those who instituted our current national holiday recognized that it was the first recorded corporate celebration of thankfulness toward God for His manifold blessings; an attitude woven throughout the fabric of our founding history.

The Thanksgiving celebration, I believe, is most properly laid forth when ordered by President Washington in 1789. Although the national holiday wasn’t legislated into official tradition until 1941, Washington’s proclamation articulates the spirit that should define the day:

“WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

“NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH 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 previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our sasety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

“And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

“GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington”

Let us all remember Washington’s words and heed his exhortation on this Day of Thanksgiving, in the year of Our Lord Jesus Christ, two thousand and six.