The words of Abraham Lincoln (16th US President) regarding Thanksgiving are as follows: “I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens” (Basler, 2018). In 1863, President Lincoln highlighted the significance of Thanksgiving and community; things that should be pursued daily.
“WHAT WE ARE GRACIOUS TOWARD WILL BE WHAT WE ARE SATISFIED WITH.”
The first Thanksgiving was a three day feast in the fall of 1621 to commemorate the first successful harvest of The Separatists/Pilgrims, who left Holland to avoid persecution. There were originally 102 passengers on the Mayflower, but by the fall of 1621, there were only about half of that number who were present at the Feast. Prayer and thanksgiving was an essential part of both cultures. People most likely ate deer, fish, turkey, cranberries, pumpkins, and even walnuts. The peace treaty between the two groups, summarized by this meal, held for over 50 years. In light of the first Thanksgiving and considering the words of President Lincoln, giving thanks and showing gratitude for one another is what Thanksgiving is all about. Due to this, our tradition of appreciation does not have to come to a halt. This directs us to a more valuable way of life.
If the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians could find a way to express their thankfulness in the midst of their circumstances, so can we. Even so, this was not merely an introspective relationship. Rather, the appreciation of their hearts flowed out and externalized by way of the Feast. In the same way, we should not merely keep our gratefulness to ourselves, but also convey it to others.
Proverbs 18:20 says “From the fruit of their mouths people’s stomachs are filled; with the harvest of their lips, they are satisfied” (Proverbs 18:20). So, what we are gracious toward will be what we are satisfied with. If you are not truly grateful for anything, how can you really be satisfied? Therefore, choose to give thanks.
In 1863, President Lincoln pronounced Thanksgiving as a National holiday. Now, in 2020, hundreds of millions of people continue to honor that tradition. We should too, and we should express our thanks daily through both the hills and the valleys. In doing so, we can capture a more meaningful way of life, a life filled with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4).
