Thoughts on Thanksgiving

Of course, now, the turkey Ben Franklin knew was brightly plumed, and a rather cunning bird, and one that wasn’t so darned fat he couldn’t fly. So if Ben had his way, the turkey would be on the endangered species list, and we’d all be eating roast Eagle, with all the trimmings, I suppose. (With apologies to Stan Freberg.)

Seriously, though, some of you wonder who we’re thanking, and for what. A look back will answer these questions, and possibly give you a new perspective on things.

Many of you, I’m sure, don’t know that Thomas Jefferson wasn’t interested in a national day of Thanksgiving since he was apparently conflicted about who we were to thank. However, some more open-minded people prevailed. Like George Washington, for example, who said in part, in his Thanksgiving Day Proclamation:

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have fince enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Conftitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

In 1863, Abraham Lincoln had cause to be thankful, as well.

By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. 

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They 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 one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, 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. 

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Of course, Thanksgiving in its current context would eventually be declared unconstitutional if we allow the courts to run things. And perhaps that’s something we ought to remember today, as well, and be thankful that they’ve not gotten that kind of power from us. That, I am certainly thankful for. (May they NEVER have such power!) If original intent counts for anything in the realm of the Constitution, and I think it does, these proclamations should end the argument about claims of separation of church and state, as it is generally misunderstood.
 
 I’d like to pass along to you Rush Limbaugh’s thoughts on Thanksgiving. It is well worth the listen.

I’ll close this extended piece with these thoughts:
 
 Please pay attention to those around the table with you this day.

Look them in the eye. Let them know.

For your own sake, give thanks for them while you have them. Consider that no relationship is forever, since we are all mortal.

Put aside what petty differences you have with these special people in your life, for they are special.

Alas, that many of us find out how special they were only after they are gone from us. I think there’s no pain deeper than that belated understanding. Celebrate those relationships today, and celebrate that whatever else happens, you are together on this day.