The giving of thanks: To whom?

Throughout recorded history (Biblical and Secular), when man has turned away from God, and has not followed “His Law,” unpleasant occurrences have happened. Wars, persecution, famine, natural disasters, death, and destruction, have been the result of the violations of His law. Today, we are witnessing many horrible events at the hands of men and women who have no respect for human life, which is the greatest gift from God. Man has decided to make his own decisions as to what is viewed as “acceptable” ways for man to kill another of God’s creation (abortion, euthanasia, wars, invasions, or “religious” jihads, etc.) in violation of the Fifth Commandment (Thou shall not kill!). Man has also determined how to redefine certain human relationships ( i.e. marriage) in stark contrast to what God has specifically ordained. (Honor thy father and thy mother!)… The First of the Ten Commandments made it quite clear that “man,” God’s creation, was not to have strange gods before Him. We are called to Love the Lord our God (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) with all of our mind, heart, soul, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves.
The early settlers in the area which we currently call the United States of America, understood that God was due “Praise” and “Thanksgiving” when the first declaration for Thanksgiving was promulgated at the Council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, in the year 1676. The Council met and set a “day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such His Goodness and Favour, many particulars of which, mercy might be instanced….” These men understood that all the various blessings which they experienced were due to the mercy, love, and goodness of the Creator. They were not fearful of offending anyone when they clearly and unequivocally acknowledged the existence of God, and the need to offer praise and thanksgiving.
Today one might wonder to whom America is giving “Thanks,” when on this Thursday, the country will again, as it does each year, celebrate Thanksgiving. To whom is the “thanks” being “given?” The history of the Thanksgiving Holiday, (noted below) was obviously influenced by the words of the psalmists who wrote:
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all who dwell in the world show him reverence.
For he spoke, and it came to be,
commanded, and it stood in place.
The Lord foils the plan of nations,
frustrates the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the Lord stands forever,
the designs of his heart through all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people chosen as his inheritance.
In another Old Testament reading, a mother tells her seventh son, after the killing of her prior six sons, that he should not abandon his ancestral customs which were part of their worship of God. She concludes her advice to him by saying: “I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things; and in the same way the human race came into existence.”
Man has, so many times, turned his back on God and found and followed “false gods.” However, God has never left or abandoned His creation and remains ever-present in the lives of all of His creation. Our country’s founders, and generations past, realized that their life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness was indeed a gift and a privilege granted by God, and not from any country, president, monarch, dictator, court, judge, or form or philosophy of government.
They believed that a loving spouse, a supportive family, friends, neighbors, and associates, and their relationships, were sufficient reasons and the cause and purpose to be thankful, appreciative, and grateful to God. Experiencing good weather or health, a bountiful harvest, and living in a great country (which permits one to enjoy certain “freedoms”) were all considered as “blessings” for which the “giving” of “thanks” was believed to be appropriate and due to God.
Every day, each of us has the opportunity to return to the core beliefs upon which this great nation was founded “under God” and “In God We Trust” by inviting God into our lives. Instead of comparing what we each have, or lack, in terms of material possessions, we can be truly grateful for what we do have, and that is “life,” in a land where currently the worship of God is “free” and uninhibited. Respect for life, and the protection of it (from birth to natural death), acknowledges our belief that life is the ultimate gift from God, the Creator. Our great republic form of democracy has resisted the challenges which socialism, communism, and many dictators and monarchs, and hostile ideologies, have tried to bring to this country by force, or by influence. Our forefathers, and generations past, knew that they were created to give praise and thanks to our Creator, by living our lives based upon values, principles, law, and commandments of God, and to be of service to, and for, our neighbors.
So many in our world today are in need of faith and hope in the form of assistance, guidance, compassion, and direction. We are encouraged to support local faith-based organizations, churches and synagogues, and those non-profit organizations dedicated and committed to providing vital human services to those in need. As part of our personal “thanks-giving,” we can do more for others by giving of our time, talent, and treasure, so that another might experience hope, sourced from faith, and witnessed by our works of mercy. By doing so, we may actually experience justice, peace, and happiness.
Please pray for the continued protection of the U.S. and Allied Military and Armed Forces throughout the world. Thanks are due to each man and woman for their extraordinary service to, and for us, and our great country. Special thanks are also due to the ordained clergy who provide spiritual guidance and direction to all in need every day. Thanks also to those in law enforcement and in the intelligence communities, and those in the emergency, health care, and human service professions. All of the above special service providers meet our needs seven days a week, and twenty four hours a day. Actually, we should always thank “anyone,” who by their service, make our life better or improved. Such happens each day, when we encounter any person at a retail store, or in any business or personal relationship.
All of us have frailties and limitations, and surely make mistakes, err, and sin, but we can be also thankful for the mercy and the forgiveness freely given by, and from, our God and Creator. We must permit humility to counter our personal pride, and give our God and Creator the praise and thanksgiving rightfully due.
The history of our national Holiday, termed “Thanksgiving,” is part of our great heritage focusing on the “giving of thanks” to the “Creator”….God! : The first declaration for Thanksgiving came from the Council of Charlestown, Mass., in the year 1676. The Council met and set a “day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such His Goodness and Favour, many particulars of which, mercy might be instanced….”
J.H. Campbell Jr.
jcampbell@agbr.com