This Thanksgiving Day let’s acknowledge that truly every good gift comes from God. They come from His everlasting love for us. Yes, even those dark moments filled with tears and worries are gifts of goodness.
Those difficult times give us an opportunity for us to reaffirm our faith, love and trust in Almighty God. The following words written by Abraham Lincoln show us the deep faith that our 16th President had. I Good morning! amazed that in the midst of all the bloodshed, defeats and anxiety of the Civil War, President Lincoln took time to sign and issue a Proclamation making Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863. The proclamation demonstrates how strongly our Christian values have shaped our country’s foundation.
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….
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens…to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November…as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwells in the heavens.
Every time I read these eloquent words, my eyes tear with emotion. Almost ninety days before, July 1, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg was fought and 51,000 Americans were killed. Despite this, Mr. Lincoln was still able to find “fruitful fields and healthful skies” and see them as God’s gifts which merited gratitude. I don’t know about you, but Lincoln’s testimony makes my gratitude seem paltry. However, I will resolve to deepen my appreciation and look for those “healthful skies” in my life.