This year has been a tough one. There have been so many circumstances that people have had to deal with this year. COVID 19 has certainly taken its toll in the way of deaths and unusual circumstances.
Yet, when you stop and think, we all have a lot to be thankful for daily.
President George Washington was the first leader to proclaim Nov. 26 in 1789 as Thanksgiving. In a proclamation, he noted that “it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”
Before that even thankfulness was shown at the very first Thanksgiving when the Pilgrims and Indians met together in the Plymouth Colony in 1621.
Then later President Abraham Lincoln designated a more permanent day for giving thanks. Finally in 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt set Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
President Kennedy handed out a challenge to the American people to be mindful of those who have less than us and to strive towards a better world not just for us, but for all of humanity.
President Reagan said: “My fellow Americans, let us keep this Thanksgiving Day sacred, and thank God for the bounty and goodness of our nation.”
Despite the difficulties that have been encountered this year, let us be grateful and humbled by the many blessings that we have received. Amen.
