The origin of Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November

The following is from an e-mail friend, Paul Trimiar ~

The history of Thanksgiving is very clear. From the very first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims gave thanks to God for His provisions. The Pilgrims braved the stormy seas, to get here, and a very harsh winter. About half of those that came here lost their lives. Can you imagine the grief and sorrow there must have been at that time? But they gave thanks. Not just because their lives were spared, but because God had gotten them through this hard time. And not that they would not have hard times to come, but they understood that in everything give thanks:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)

Is there something that they understood and we don’t? I think so. I believe that they knew God is still God through all that they had to endure. We go through difficulties and ask, “where is God?” Now I am not trying to minimize difficulties in our lives. The loss of my mom this year was very difficult to me, and still is, but thanking God is not an option to me. It is essential.

Maybe you have lost everything that you own. Or you have an abusive spouse. You know someone who is struggling with a serious health issue. Maybe you just lost your child to war, or you know someone who is struggling with drugs and you are unable to help. I am sure you can think of many more struggles.

The point is, just because your football team may lose does not mean that we should not give thanks. We should give thanks everyday. It’s in the thanksgiving that we find that God satisfies the soul:

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:8-9

In the Old Testament, Job suffered plenty. I cannot imagine losing my children as he did, but his response was:

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said:

Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:20,21

What was Job doing? Job was giving Thanksgiving to the Lord, wasn’t he?

Abraham Lincoln said to a friend, after he gave the Gettysburg Address; "When I left Springfield [to assume the Presidency] I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ."

Not only did he get saved, but he was thankful and in 1863 set aside the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

I hope you all enjoy yourself and be thankful, not only on this day but everyday because this is GOD’S HEART for you through CHRIST JESUS our Lord.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

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Thanksgiving Proclamation

Thanksgiving Proclamation
[New York, 3 October 1789]

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

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 favor -- 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 public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many 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 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 previous to their becoming a Nation -- for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced 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 enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety 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 favors which he hath 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 public 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 government, peace, and concord -- To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease 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 1789.

Go: Washington



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Happy Thanksgiving

Someone sent this to me, author unknown, and it was so good I just have to share it with you all!

"To Everyone Attending Thanksgiving Dinner....

"Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming, I've made few small changes.

"Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.

"Once inside, our guests will note that the entry hall is not decorated with the swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make. Instead, I've gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful autumn leaves from the front yard. The mud was their idea.

"The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork. Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.

"Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I promised. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a turkey.

"We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hotline. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.

"As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that the tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.

"We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like.

"In the spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at a separate table. In a separate room. Next door.

"Now I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at our dinner. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private" meaning: Do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed.

"It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat.

"I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that "passing the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to bean your brother in the head with warm, tasty bread. Oh, and one reminder to the adults: For the duration of the meal, and especially while in the presence of young diners, we will refer to the giblet gravy by it's lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce. If a young diner questions you regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce, plead ignorance.

"Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice between 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small finger prints. You will have a choice: take it or leave it.

"Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. She probably won't come next year either. I am thankful.

"HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!!"

The amazing grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with you, Joanne

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