A Time of Thanksgiving

By: Larry Jewett

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Today is a day of celebration as we mark Thanksgiving in July. As the third event of this nature, it's becoming a tradition, more so than the original Thanksgiving for which it is named.

Historians dispute many elements of the first thanksgiving in 1621, but there is no dispute that it was not repeated. That's right, the Pilgrims did not gather annually to give thanks in this manner. However, that didn't mean they didn't give thanks. As a devoutly religious people, a day of thanksgiving was a day of prayer and would have been held at any time they felt an extra day of thanks was called for.

We have come to accept Thanksgiving in a different vein. We look upon it as a day in November, the fourth Thursday of the month as deemed by President Franklin Roosevelt, to gather with family and hold a feast laden with traditional fare and family favorites. While Roosevelt set the date, it was Abraham Lincoln in 1863 who set the celebration. His Thanksgiving Proclamation stated in part: ìThe year that is drawing to its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.î Lincoln went on to say, ìThey are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People.î

Lincoln's message is clear. Even in the times of strife that were dividing the nation, there is a need to pause and reflect upon the blessings, too many to name. Our modern Thanksgivings have evolved with ìtraditionalî football games and retail sales flyers for the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season. It's a far cry from the gathering of a group that escaped religious persecution in the 17th century, a group that held a celebratory feast with a native population, but it is how it is done by many today.

"The concept of thanksgiving is simple - giving thanks."

The strongest elements of traditions tend to persevere through time. Our feast contains much of the same fare believed to be part of the first Thanksgiving. The idea of sharing the blessings with the community still thrive.

But ìthanksgivingî in the bible is never spelled with a capital ìTî. The concept of thanksgiving is simple ñ giving thanks. We are encouraged, Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. (Psalm 95:2). We are comforted, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7). We are humbled by the power of God and mindful of the glory, honor and praise that should be righteously bestowed.

As we gather today for our Thanksgiving in July, we're mindful that every day is a day of thanks. We praise God through our prayers and our work and the strength of our belief and an extra day of thanks is an added bonus. The strongest elements of traditions tend to persevere through time. Our feast contains much of the same fare believed to be part of the first Thanksgiving. The idea of sharing the blessings with the community still thrive.

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