I have watched over the course of the month of November as many of my friends on Facebook gave thanks each day for something or someone in their lives. Reading these has been uplifting and eye-opening. It goes without saying that we are a blessed nation. We have been blessed with riches, material and immaterial. Generally speaking, we as a people want for little compared to the rest of the world. As a result, we sometimes tend to forget just how blessed we really are, and, most importantly, who is responsible for those blessings. Reading the daily thanksgivings has been a welcome reminder. The history of Thanksgiving is widely celebrated with the story of pilgrims and Native Americans. However even today we have much to celebrate, even more to be thankful for, and more than ever we must remember the one responsible for it all. I believe President Lincoln said it best in his National Day of Thanksgiving proclamation in 1864:
Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens, wherever they may be then, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe. And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid, that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust, and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the great Disposer of events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it has pleased him to assign as a dwelling-place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.
I believe we (the whole world), from top to bottom, must return to this degree of deference to God...to "reverently humble themselves in the dust, and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the great Disposer of events...." I encourage you to take a step back from your hectic schedules this weekend to reflect on your blessings. I suspect that once you begin counting your blessings you aren't likely to drift to sleep - no matter what Bob Wallace tells you. Give thanks to Him for providing, and not just material wealth, but for the kindness of a stranger, a hug you needed but didn't expect, a helping hand, friendship and family. I dare you to try to name them all.
I am thankful for my family, for the freedoms so many before us have worked and died to create, and most of all for the salvation promised me by Jesus Christ - the same salvation he freely offers to all comers. Indeed, we have much to be thankful for!