Moderators: Breezy, Lilly, Truth
..ianDear Family and Friends,
The following was written by my daughter, ___ and I asked permission to use it as our family greeting to all of those we love:
While things in our house are roasting, baking, simmering, and boiling, and everywhere the delicious smells of another Thanksgiving are filling our home, bringing memories, laughter, praise and whole lot of family. I wanted to wish all you here along with your family and loved ones, a Happy Thanksgiving day.
We have so many blessings to be thankful for, some seen immediately and others in due time, even our trials and tribulations can lead to thanksgiving. Something I try to keep in mind, for "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Our God is so very good.
"Rejoice evermore.Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" " And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God"
(1Th 5:16-18, Eph 5:20 & 2 Cor 9:9-12)
Americans grow up learning and remembering the Pilgrims and Indians and that first thanksgiving, but the following is another bit of history... For the truth is, it took awhile for Thanksgiving to become a National Holiday.
It took alot of prayers, faith, perseverence, blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifice, and in wake of the American Revolution, it also took awhile to get a government, and constitution set up. That truly began in 1798, and that was when our First President, newly elected, proclaimed the following:
May God be with you all today in a very special way.Proclamation of National Thanksgiving
George Washington
City of New York, October 3, 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 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 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 shown kindness unto 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 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
Blessings,