WBC: Impact Site

It’s always interesting to read something of our past.  Sometimes you learn things, sometimes you remember what you’ve forgotten, yet other times you simply observe how different the times are now.  Thanksgiving hasn’t always been a holiday and its change from its original intent is interesting to me.   It’s been reduced by the same country that declared it to little more than a time off from life to shop, spend time with families, and that has varying depths of meaning for the individuals who celebrate it. Without the understanding of its intent, it is easy to understand why its focus has so easily passed from God to us.  In God’s Word we read what God intended for us, provided for us, and ultimately what’s in store for us in the future.  It’s much more than a history book of stories but very much God’s truth to man of who He is.  I wonder what if I did not live in a country where the founding fathers saw to it to set aside a day each year to give thanks to God.  Would my life be any different?  I suspect that it would be but I cannot help but think that the Psalmists’ declaration found throughout the Psalms: “O Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good…” is something that is to be a part of my life anyway.  So as we lead up to Thanksgiving, maybe as wonderful as it is to be with family and friends, our attention should turn to the One who has given us hope and a future.  So read this with interest as I have and maybe argueing when to put up the decorations and listening to music “at the right time” takes a back seat for just a moment as we turn from tradition to true reflection about something bigger than families getting together, music, and what day we will save a lot of money.

New York, 3 October 1789 

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 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 [sic] kindness onto 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 [sic] 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.

George Washington