This morning I was doing a little catch up reading in my Google Reader. My blogging friend, Barry Wallace, has written an interesting story on Thanksgiving, looking through the eyes of our nation's historical documents.
Reading these early documents, I found it striking that they found no conflict to call upon the name of God, and Jesus Christ. Furthermore, our early Continental Congress, asked our early countrymen to beseech God, in one voice, for the forgiveness of their sins:
"That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful
Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine
Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may
join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every
Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits
of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance..."
In reading these heartfelt calls to prayer and thanksgiving, I decided to hop over to the White House's website, to see what they were putting forth for Thanksgiving Day. As you can see from this photograph, and also featured front and center on the White House website, it is the pardoning of a turkey from certain death. These pardoned turkey's then went on to Disneyland to take part in a parade.
Now, don't get me wrong. I find nothing wrong with a little fun and frivolity. I enjoy many of our Thanksgiving traditions, just like millions all over this nation. And to be fair, there was a Thanksgiving Proclamation, and the President's radio address, gave a veiled reference to God. But, clearly our country doesn't enjoy the same relationship it once had with God Almighty.
My heart this morning, to my sons and family, is to call upon you to take some time to reflect back on our nation, and our lives, and to recognize, in spite of this horrendous economy, the incredible blessings we have all received from God. Furthermore, upon that recognition, to take time to thank God for his blessings, and ask Him to be more present in our lives, and country.
As I have recently so well learned, it is very difficult to truly be thankful, when you are swimming in wealth, as we are in this country. Force yourself to take some time to meditate back to those who gave so much, force yourself to understand the source of their strength and character, and force yourself, with bent knee, to proclaim your deep gratitude to God for His blessings to you, and our nation.
