So Whom Do We Thank?

I read this quote recently:

There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American, by O. Henry. It is a nice feeling of having something to call our own; Thanks to President Lincoln we have something that is purely American! I started wondering exactly what prompt this national holiday and whom did he (Lincoln) want us to give thanks to.

I would have to go back and ask Lincoln that question, since that would be impossible, I decided to read his Proclamation. If you do not want to read the entire Proclamation, just scroll down and read what is highlighted to get the answer has to whom we give our thanks to on Thanksgiving Day, the American holiday.

Proclamation 118 - Thanksgiving Day, 1864 October 20, 1864 Abraham Lincoln By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation It has pleased Almighty God to prolong our national life another year, defending us with His guardian care against unfriendly designs from abroad and vouchsafing to us in His mercy many and signal victories over the enemy, who is of our own household. It has also pleased our Heavenly Father to favor as well our citizens in their homes as our soldiers in their camps and our sailors on the rivers and seas with unusual health. He has largely augmented our free population by emancipation and by immigration, while He has opened to us new sources of wealth and has crowned the labor of our workingmen in every department of industry with abundant rewards. Moreover, He has been pleased to animate and inspire our minds and hearts with fortitude, courage, and resolution sufficient for the great trial of civil war into which we have been brought by our adherence as a nation to the cause of freedom

and humanity, and to afford to us reasonable hopes of an ultimate and happy deliverance from all our dangers and afflictions:

Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens, wherever they may then be, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe. And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of Events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 20th day of October, A.D. 1864, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

So we are to give thanks to the Ruler of the Universe? That was what Lincoln had desired we do. Is it me, or do you think that Thanksgiving today seem to be more of a family gathering without much thanking? Oh sure, there will be the wonderful Thanksgiving blessing of the meal and some families will even go around the table asking each family member what they are thankful for. After reading Lincoln Proclamation, I dont think Lincoln wanted, just a day of family, food, shopping, and football. Listen, I am not knocking sitting around with our families eating turkey with all the trimmings or shopping, or watching football; what I am saying is this year, maybe, do more thanking and praising to our God. If you are wondering how to do that when your Thanksgiving day probably has been already planned. I have some suggestions. If you are the one that will be in the kitchen all morning basting the turkey, put one of your favorite CD of worship and begin singing praise songs. If you do not have any worship CDs, you could, while you are cutting up the celery, and onions for the stuffing, begin praising and thanking Him for all your blessings. Maybe, you are driving to Grandmothers house, you could change the radio station to a worship station, even if you do not know the words, the melody will be so uplifting. Moreover, after you give thanks, Lincolns Proclamation ask us to send our request to God, so we can continue to receive His blessings. There are so many wonderful things happening in our country, however; it seems to me the God is slowing being removed from our great country. Please,

pray with me for union and harmony throughout our nation. In closing, if you had never given much thought about focusing more time on Thanksgiving for praising and prayers, I challenge you to give more time doing just that. I am not asking you to give up anything that you traditionally do, just be conscience of giving time to God. Start a new beginning of doing something different this year on Thanksgiving Day. Begin praising the Almighty Ruler of our Universe and continue too, and you will see your life change only for the better. I certainly would enjoy reading how you decided to give more praise to God this year, please post a comment and share.

If you need prayer or would like to leave a comment, please post.

Sincerely,

DeAnna

Citation: Abraham Lincoln: "Proclamation 118 - Thanksgiving Day, 1864," October 20, 1864. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?