Call to Decision

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The True Reason for Thanksgiving
By: Mary Beth Brown Adapted
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The first settlers overcame many obstacles to come to Plymouth.
About one-half died en route or during that first winter in
1620. Only about one-half dozen were not sick and were able-
Bodied and strong enough to plant that first crop in 1620. The
First Thanksgiving celebration and feast in 1621 lasted three
Days. It was a time of food, gifts, prayer, songs, and games;
Being united as one---the Pilgrims and the Indians. It was a
Time of thankfulness and reflection.

Over time, myths and distortions have arisen, twisting the
Reason for Thanksgiving Day. For starters, the Pilgrims did
Not hold their harvest festival to thank the local Indians. This
Myth is often perpetuated in schools and textbooks. Many
Children and adults now believe we celebrate the help given to
The Pilgrims by Native Americans. If the Pilgrims were to visit
This Thanksgiving, they would be shocked.

The Pilgrims focused on thanking and praising God for His
Love, for all that He had done for them, and for the freedom
They enjoyed in the New World.

A glimpse into the history of Thanksgiving Day gives a
Greater appreciation of this great American holiday. Even
Earlier than the Pilgrims, people of faith set aside days for
Prayer and thanksgiving to God. Many times rather than a
Feast, they were a time dedicated to prayer.

It may come as a surprise to some that the word holiday is
Actually from old English compound word combining holy
And day. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines holiday as "a
Day set aside for special religious observance."

The ancient Hebrews had many days set apart to worship,
Praise and thank God. Passover and Succoth are holy days of
Gratitude to God for His loving-kindness and deliverance from
Egypt.

Early Americans often held days of thanksgiving in the
Various states and commonwealths. Washington and Madison
Each proclaimed a day of thanksgiving while president.
In October 1789, President George Washington signed a
Proclamation requested by Congress "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 form a
Government for their safety and happiness."

Washington then assigned the twenty-sixth day of November
"to be devoted by the people. 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;" and to "all unite in rendering
Unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and
Protection of the people of this country."

It was to remember, Washington said, God's "manifold
Mercies" and providence, "for the civil and religious liberty
With which we are blessed," and, "in general, for all the great
And various favors" He gave them.

In the dark days of the Civil War in 1863, Lincoln proclaimed,
By Act of Congress, an annual National Day of Thanksgiving
Following a letter campaign promoting the idea by Sarah Hale.
As a mother, widowed at the age of 34, Hale was the editor of
The first woman's magazine in America and campaigned for
Over 40 years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Lincoln's words are especially timely now with our soldiers
Fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, "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
Land, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of
November.as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our
Beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."

He recommends that we "commend to his tender care all those
Who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers"
From the war and to look at the many blessings we have been
Given by God including "which are so constantly enjoyed that
We are prone to forget the source from which they come.
Almighty God..."

".But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the
Gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and
Enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagine, by
The deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessing were
Produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own..."
In conclusion, Lincoln says, "It has seemed to me fit and
Proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully
Acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole
American people."

Even amongst the pain, upheaval and difficulties of the Civil
War, the nation came together for a day of thanksgiving and
Praise.

Sadly, someone erroneously wrote in Wikipedia,
"Thanksgiving Day is . a time to give thanks for the harvest
and express gratitude in general.While perhaps religious in
origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular
holiday." Maybe this is true for some Americans, but certainly
not for all. And definitely not the way the "Mother of the
American Thanksgiving," Sarah Hale visualized it.
Hale wrote, "Let this day.be the grand Thanksgiving
Holiday of our nation, when the noise and tumult of
worldliness may be exchanged for the laugh of happy
children, the glad greeting of family reunion, and the humble
gratitude of the Christian heart."

And Edward Martin wisely reminds us, "Thanksgiving Day
comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as
frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow."

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Believers give God praise, worship, love, and thanks for His
presence in our lives and the salvation that is available only
in and from His Son, Jesus, no matter what their circumstances .
Our Creator/Father gives us, his children, love, blessings,
and guidance through His written and spoken word to us.
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Have a Memorable and Blessed Thanksgiving,

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                      A MOMENT TO CONSIDER
                                is a ministry of:

                        Harvey and June Schneider
                       Servant Soldiers Ministries
                             Daphne, Alabama
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