Thanksgiving– The giving of thanks– The expressing of sincere gratitude.
If you want to change the temperature of your life, try thankfulness. The change will be greatly appreciated, and you will like the new you.
Most people live in such a hurried life they rarely ever truly see the other person. Many never say thank you to those who serve them in the various daily routines of need. How many ever remember to give a heart-felt thanks to a helpful neighbor, your children’s teachers, your parents or your child? What about that cashier who has been standing for hours helping the many who came through the line before you, and now has gone beyond the expected to get you information and location of an item you had forgotten? What about your mail carrier? The gentleman who hauls away all the garbage you have been able to accumulate over the course of a week?
I am not speaking of the absent minded habit of glibly half spitting out the exit expression of “Thanks.” Neither am I referring a routine and mindless sentiment of politeness. It should expose in us a deep quality of love felt towards a fellow human being. “Thank you” should be just the start of the expression gratitude. In a sincere attitude of gratitude, you should strive to give good feelings as a reward in any way possible.
A thankful heart has no room for haughtiness, bitterness, suspicion, or resentment. When you develop within you a genuine sense of gratitude you will be a pleasant and good-natured person. Not to mention that when you share gratitude, others will go out of their way to be extra helpful to you; though that should never be your motivation for kindness.
Soon, your eyes will be opened to the ultimate One we ought to show gratitude and thanksgiving toward, our Almighty God, Creator, Sustainer, and Savior.
It is documented that our early Thanksgiving celebrations were for the acknowledgement of the wonderful provisions from God. The following is an early presidential proclamation stating the necessity recognized by our government officials to collectively thank God for all He has done.
Transcript of President George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation from October 3, 1789
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 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 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
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
3 Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
4 Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!” (Psalm 105:1-4)
I am thankful, Father, that in Christ:
-I am the object of Your love.
-I am born-again; making me Your child.
-I am an heir with Christ.
-I am chosen.
-I am forgiven.
-I am justified.
-I am redeemed.
-I am holy.
-I am not alone, as I am near to my God at all times.
-I am free, yet I surrender myself to You.
-I am alive.
-I am sealed by the Holy Spirit.
-I am more than a conqueror.
-I am strong
and, I am grateful to You . . .
Thank You for the life You have given to me, and called me in as a service to You and my fellow man. You have blessed me with a precious wife and five wonderful children, who as adults have given me a quiver filled with awesome grandchildren. I am truly blessed, and I am sincerely grateful, and I will always be thankful to You in whatever comes. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!
