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In 1863
Abraham Lincoln made the following proclamation: "It has seemed to me fit and
proper that [the gifts of God] should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully
acknowledged with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do,
therefore, invite my fellow citizens... to set apart and observe the last Thursday
of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father
who dwelleth in the heavens."
America of 1863 was being torn by a civil war that cost more American
lives than all of the other wars the USA has been involved in since its inception.
Research has shown that most of the deaths didn't result from the battles but
from disease. Yet Lincoln saw that America had a lot to be thankful for.
David exhorted his people to worship God. Verse
4 of the 5-verse hymn says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts
with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." True worship includes a
thankful heart! Do you display and teach thankfulness in your home?
Learn to be thankful as it is a key ingredient to a proper worship
relationship with the heavenly Father. Let others know you are thankful because
thankfulness is contagious! You may be an inspiration to others to acknowledge
God's many blessings.
All Scripture references are from the New American
Standard Version unless otherwise noted.
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~ Thanksgiving
