PEA RIDGE — Thanksgiving is a special time. But we must remember to whom we owe thanks.
Thanksgiving is more difficult to commercialize and it’s an opportunity to express gratitude, which we seem to overlook in our overly busy lives. It’s also a time to gather family and enjoy a feast.
A visit with young children recently left me wondering exactly what today’s young people are being taught about Thanksgiving.
The origin of the holiday is about giving thanks to God, the Creator and sustainer of life. The Pilgrimswho settled this continent had barely survived a hard winter and had been befriended by the local natives who taught them to hunt and fish and some farming techniques.
The two groups gathered for a celebration and feast in 1621 and to give thanks to the Almighty whom they credited with saving their lives.
Ironically, even the Internet “Wikipedia” states: “Thanksgiving was historically a religious observation to give thanks to God, but is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.”
In 1789, U.S. President George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving: “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... to recommend to the people ... a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed byacknowledging 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.”
That is only a portion of the proclamation, but it is as applicable today as it was then. Despite our men and women serving overseas in a conflict, we live in relative peace here in this country and we have much, despite our hardships, for which to be thankful.
Let us give thanks to God.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 11/25/2009