Faith | At Thanksgiving, let’s remember why we’re grateful
Growing up, my family usually visited my Aunt Opal’s place in Vancouver, Wash., for Thanksgiving. She was my favorite aunt who made the best pumpkin pie, and she didn’t mind that I wouldn’t eat the flour crust.
She, and my mom, would make an awesome Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings, including great desserts. Leftovers for the next few days almost tasted better than the original meal.
Then the day after Thanksgiving, we would all go shopping to start preparations for Christmas, which later in life I learned represented our Savior Jesus Christ’s birthday. I, being the youngest in both families, always had to go shopping with my mom and aunt, but they made it fun, so I didn’t mind.
I never knew the real meaning of Thanksgiving—outside of it being a time to visit my aunt, eat great food, shop and play fun games with family. Aunt Opal would always entertain us by playing silly card games for nickels and dimes. I enjoyed it immensely.
Now I know that Thanksgiving represents why we should appreciate and be thankful for so many things. For instance, religious and other freedoms, family, friends, and the ability to live in the greatest nation on Earth—the U.S.A. where we get to aspire to whatever we want to be.
Our country was founded on religious freedom, which will always set the stage for our nation to be great. It guarantees all people the opportunity to worship God as they see fit without government interference. Our constitution made this a priority in the Bill of Rights where the first Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ... .”
Our Thanksgiving holiday dates back to the Pilgrims, who came to America starting in 1620, because they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. About half of them died that first year, but miraculously a Native American, Squanto, soon came to them. He had escaped from being a slave to the British and spoke fluent English. He taught them to farm and fish—truly a godsend.
That following year, largely thanks to Squanto, they gathered together with the local Indians for three days, celebrating a bountiful harvest—along with their religious freedoms.
In 1789, George Washington declared a one time Thanksgiving Proclamation for Thursday, November 26th that said, “ 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 ... .”
In 1863, a few months after the battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November an annual day of Thanksgiving to help unite the nation. In 1924 New York City started with an annual Macy’s Day parade on Thanksgiving. Then in 1934, the Detroit Lions started having a professional football game played on Thanksgiving Day.
Hopefully this Thanksgiving, along with parades, football games and family gatherings, we will be reminded to be grateful for our many blessings:: family, friends, freedom, faith and a healthy appreciation for those in our military who have, and who will continue to keep us safe.
It is with a thankful heart that we enjoy the blessings of our great nation which was founded, and endures, under the many blessings of God—as long as we don’t abandon him.
Lee Walter is Sunday School superintendent at Columbia Bible Church in Kennewick and vice chairman of the Tri-Cities Child Evangelism Fellowship. Questions and comments should be directed to editor Lucy Luginbill in care of the Tri-City Herald newsroom, 4253 W. 24th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99338. Or email lluginbill@tricityherald.com.
