So what is the point of Thanksgiving in our modern culture?
When this nation was established, the Continental Congress and succeeding sitting Presidents issued several Thanksgiving proclamations for the nation, the first in 1782:
It being the indispensable duty of all nations, not only to offer up their supplications to Almighty God, the giver of all good, for His gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner, to give Him praise for His goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of His Providence in their behalf; therefore, the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of Divine goodness to these States in the course of the important conflict, in which they have been so long engaged…do hereby recommend it to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe and request the several states to interpose their authority, in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY OF NOVEMBER next as a day of SOLEMN THANKSGIVING to GOD for all His mercies; and they do further recommend to all ranks to testify their gratitude to God for His goodness by a cheerful obedience to His laws and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.
President Lincoln made the fourth Thursday of November an official national holiday in 1863. He did this in the midst of one of the most turbulent and troubling times of this nation’s history—the Civil War. It was in this period of conflict and tragedy that the President delivered to the people of this nation this 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 unequalled magnitude and severity…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… 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… 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 consciousness 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 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, tranquility and Union.
Notice that the common thread of purpose and response for a Day of Thanksgiving has always been the same: to remember the source of all goodness and blessing is in God alone, and to, therefore, offer to Him alone such thanks and praise.
While our leaders today frequently exhort us to give thanks, we rarely hear any reference concerning to whom we are to give thanks. It is not uncommon to hear comments by those who reluctantly acknowledge God’s existence, or deny it altogether, about how “thankful” they are. But to whom are they thankful—the turkey that adores their table, the butcher, the storekeeper? President Lincoln and those who preceded him left no doubt about the right answer to that question.
START THE CONVERSATION: What is the subject and object of Thanksgiving? Does it matter if God is the recipient of our thanks? What is the point of Thanksgiving if God is not the subject and object of our thanksgiving? How are you keeping the focus where it ought to be in your family?
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