To begin with, I took on a project that soon turned out to be more ambitious than I could handle. Naively, I had determined to write the “true story” of Thanksgiving. Soon I had to give up, because I found that there are so many confusing and contradictory stories about how this holiday became part of our country’s tradition.
Some accounts teach that the original pilgrims were treacherous, murdering, wild people who killed Indians for sport and celebrated their exploits. Some make it a lesson in personal responsibility, saying that originally the pilgrims were socialists and pooled their harvest, and that nearly everyone starved until they finally decided to take individual responsibility and grow their own crops. Thus thanksgiving was to celebrate the results of free enterprise. Some others offered proof that the original Thanksgiving Day started in Texas!
Funny how the more we know, the more we know that we don’t know!
Having given up on this investigation into history and mythical matters, I do want to try to say some things, not just about Thanksgiving Day, but also about the giving of thanks at any time.
First, there is a very important Person involved, One who often goes unmentioned in our popular culture during this season. You will hear a lot about “being thankful”, and “offering thanks”, but hardly a mention about to whom we are thankful. In popular culture, to bring up the subject of “God” is just not very cool. Some have opted to merely call it “turkey day.” But G. K. Chesterton was right when he said, “the worst moment for the atheist is when he feels really thankful and has no one to thank.”
Secondly, it is virtually impossible to “count our blessings”, because there are so many. Once I wrote to you about one of the most difficult times in my life, and how my angry attitude and spirit were quickly changed once I grudgingly began to attempt to express thankfulness to God. If you don’t have the money to see a shrink (or even if you do), a grateful outlook will go a long way toward restoring your mind.
Also, our gratitude should be based in actuality- being grateful for real truths and real things which we can identify, not just an empty expression of pretended cheerfulness. To “put on a smile” without acknowledging a real reason to smile will only serve to cover up sorrow until later it erupts into even greater bitterness.
I also believe that being genuinely thankful is an invitation for a divine presence to be felt. We all like to be in places where we are acknowledged and appreciated for who we are and what we have done. Why, I can stay around all night if people are saying nice things to me and about me! I suspect that God is the same way. However, unlike me, He has no vanity. He doesn’t have a “need” to be thanked. He isn’t insecure. But the scripture says that He “inhabits praise.” Wherever He is appreciated, there He will be. Sometimes you will not be aware of this presence, but often you will.
A few years ago my son woke me up with a phone call early in the morning. Since he usually sleeps late, I wondered if something was wrong. But on that day he was in the mountains of North Georgia at sunrise, overlooking a giant canyon. He was alone at the time, so he just wanted to share that moment with me, and to describe the awesome beauty of what he was seeing! We have been created with a need for community, so that WE will best enjoy all the wonderful things that have been done for us, and the beautiful things that have been created for us, when we share them with each other in a spirit of thanksgiving!
Finally, I believe that genuine thanksgiving will produce some kind of action. Knowing that so much undeserved grace has been given to us should motivate us to want to help the ones who are not so fortunate. I hope that this year you will show some kindness to someone who may be hurting. Particularly, please try to do something to help the most vulnerable ones- the children and the animals who need our love and protection.
May this Thanksgiving Day be a happy time for all of your family.