I thought at this time and in the current environment it might be good again to look at some of the history of this holiday in America.
Throughout the 1700’s individual colonies held periodic days or times of thanksgiving. Thomas Jefferson did this while governor of Virginia.
In 1777 right in the middle of the Revolutionary War the Colonial Congress recommended a day of thanksgiving.
In 1789, the first year of the first presidency of the US under the new Constitution, George Washington issued a proclamation establishing a day of thanksgiving that year. Here are a few of his words from the proclamation:
- 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 favour…
- I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH 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…
- we may … 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
Abraham Lincoln finally established legally the annual holiday we observe on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Here are a few words from his proclamation:
- I do …invite my fellow citizens …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.
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and others establishing such days in our history had no difficulty understanding who the thanksgiving is to. It is to God. We all know that too and we certainly give thanks to him daily. But Thanksgiving Day is of course a special recognized day nationally for giving this thanks!
We wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
November 2021
Copyright © 2021 by John Newlin
KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS!
JOHN NEWLIN
MINISTRIES
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CARY, NC 27518
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email: john@johnnewlinministries.org
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Blog: johnnewlin.blogspot.com
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