The year was 1621 and the harvest was in so the Pilgrims, and Native Americans, celebrated a ‘Harvest Feast’ in Plymouth, Massachusetts and it has cone to be known as the first Thanksgiving. In the year 1630 settlers observed the first Thanksgiving of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England on July 8th.
In 1777, while in route to Valley Forge, George Washington and his army stopped in freezing weather to observe the first Thanksgiving of the new United States of America. In 1789 President George Washington declared November 26th as a national day of prayer and Thanksgiving. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an official federal holiday.
In 1924 Macy’s held its first Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 1941 President Roosevelt established the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. In 1947 President Harry Truman ‘pardoned’ a turkey the day before it was scheduled to be served up as the main course at the White House Thanksgiving Day dinner. Modern presidents have carried on the tradition.
I think we all agree that we should express our thankfulness as a nation and individually. I think we all agree we should express our thankfulness more than just one day a year. I think we all agree that it is a sign of politeness to say, “Thank you”, when we are the recipients of kindness and graciousness. Most children are encouraged to say, “Thank You, and we all think it is so precious. Isn’t it sad that many forget how to say, “Thank you”.
I become concerned with the absence of Thankfulness and the failure to express our Thankfulness. Life would be most unbearable if it were not for the many acts of kindness, and graciousness, which have come our way. The question we need to ask ourselves is this, “Did I remember to say, “Thank You”? Another question to ask ourselves is this, “Is it too late to say, “Thank You”? If it is not to late I would say, “Get it done!”.
No one has been more kind, and gracious, to more undeserving people than our Heavenly Father. The fact that He loved us while we were lost in sin and sent “His only begotten Son” to pay our sin debt I think deserves a BIG, “THANK YOU!”. With all the perplexities of life I can always know that I am victorious in my ‘Living Savior’ and that ‘Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.’
The list for which I should be saying, “Thank You”, to my Heavenly Father, is too great for me know. I think eternity will be spent in praise of Him who made it possible and real praise always includes “THANK YOU!”.