President George Washington designated Thursday, November 26, 1789, “for the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving.” This was the first celebration as a national holiday under the new constitution.
Succeeding presidents proclaimed thanksgiving holidays, but they were not always on the same day, nor month. On October 6, 1941, the Congress decided to set a fixed date for the holiday. The House passed a joint resolution designating the last Thursday in November to be the legal Thanksgiving Day, but the Senate amended the resolution establishing it as the fourth Thursday of November. The resolution was signed by President Roosevelt on December 26, 1941, establishing the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.
Thanksgiving Day is my favorite day of the year. I love the smells from the kitchen filtering through the house, the chatter and laughter of my wife and daughters as they prepare the traditional Thanksgiving meal. I enjoy the games we play together as a family, and the Godly conversations we share and the remembrances that we enjoy. Our sweetest time is our gathering around a bountiful table, joining hands as a unified family and giving thanks to our Almighty and wonderful Heavenly Father, and Provider for all the blessings he has given and the things that he has done for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Ephesians 5: 20 “ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 1:12-14 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
I have so much to be thankful for: my family, my Church, and my freedoms, but the greatest blessing is the day “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:2, 3.
Every day in our house is a day of thanksgiving to the Lord.
Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you!!