Thanksgiving 2008

"He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you , O Lord, have given me." - Deuteronomy 26:9

.

"Our gratitude to G-d must express itself in the actions of our daily life. Giving back the "First of our fruit", the choicest share of our crop, is the only appropriate way to thank G-d for giving us all our fruit." -Naftali Silberberg

So today, November 27, 2008, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day and I pray that all Americans take a momement to look around their homes, their neighborhoods, their cities, their states, their nation and the world for there is much to be thankful for. Even in times of financial turmoil, political uncertainty, social unrest, illness and disease there is so much to be thankful for but you must allow yourself time to pause, and reflect.

If you are reading this you woke up this morning and that is a very good place to start being thankful. You, have been blessed with another day to interact, enjoy and hopefully appreciate Gods creation as you continue your life journey/expedition.

On a historical note our Continental Congress on November 1, 1777 made a Thanksgiving Proclamation and did so every year until 1784. The wording used in 1777 by the Continental Congress may surprise you.

FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success: ........

From 1785 until 1788 there were no proclamations and in 1789 President Washington issued the first Presidential Proclamation and it started with....

Whereas 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 - and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."........

.
So today if you are so inclined to do so, pause, think and reflect on what you are thankful for.