Once again Thanksgiving is here and millions have traveled to visit family and join together in a traditional dinner of turkey and all the trimmings. Others have remained home and have a similar type of local gathering, considering themselves fortunate that they won't have to face a long trip back home. And there are those who have avoided the festive occasion almost completely by shopping for specials instead, choosing to use the day to ship for specials now that so many stores are open for business on this day.
But whatever you do and wherever you go, it's important that all of us take the time to remember what this uniquely American holiday is all about. It's a day to thank Divine Providence for the blessings and the bounty that we have been given. Nowhere on the face of this earth has a nation been given so much as we have and it is for that reason that George Washington issued his first Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789. He issued another one in 1796 and these documents make it clear that the new nation acknowledged the leading role that the Great Creator had in her founding. Things could have easily fallen apart, yet the Founding Fathers were resolute in their pursuit of freedom from The Crown under the watchful eye of God.
It's only appropriate on this day that we look again at the words of the new President George Washington to see without question why he and his fledgling government thought it necessary for the new citizens to spend a day of thanksgiving to God. It didn't become an official holiday for many years after but Washington set the tone as the new leader for this recognition of God's grace. Here are the words he wrote in his proclamation, words that signal the true purpose of this day.
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 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 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 favor, able 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 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 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 trangressions; 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 shown kindness to 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 1789.
Go. Washington
We need to think about these words in whatever we do today. It's the basis for the day and all that goes with it. May God's guiding light continue to shine on the United States of America. Happy Thanksgiving, America. Have a wonderful day.
But whatever you do and wherever you go, it's important that all of us take the time to remember what this uniquely American holiday is all about. It's a day to thank Divine Providence for the blessings and the bounty that we have been given. Nowhere on the face of this earth has a nation been given so much as we have and it is for that reason that George Washington issued his first Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789. He issued another one in 1796 and these documents make it clear that the new nation acknowledged the leading role that the Great Creator had in her founding. Things could have easily fallen apart, yet the Founding Fathers were resolute in their pursuit of freedom from The Crown under the watchful eye of God.
It's only appropriate on this day that we look again at the words of the new President George Washington to see without question why he and his fledgling government thought it necessary for the new citizens to spend a day of thanksgiving to God. It didn't become an official holiday for many years after but Washington set the tone as the new leader for this recognition of God's grace. Here are the words he wrote in his proclamation, words that signal the true purpose of this day.
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 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 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 favor, able 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 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 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 trangressions; 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 shown kindness to 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 1789.
Go. Washington
We need to think about these words in whatever we do today. It's the basis for the day and all that goes with it. May God's guiding light continue to shine on the United States of America. Happy Thanksgiving, America. Have a wonderful day.
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