Thanksgiving 2010: How Thankful Are We?

This American holiday is known for being a special day for giving thanks. A dilemma is caused if we have no source to give thanks to. Those who don't believe in a higher source argue that we can be thankful without having an object to direct our thanks towards. They are only slightly correct since they only claim a small sliver of the dictionary's definition of the word 'thanks'. Being thankful in that type of way is the same as being happy... you can be glad (Gladsgiving Day?) independently from directing that feeling anywhere beyond your self. This is the base, immature meaning of the word.

Most of us realize this is not what the holiday is all about and was never intended to be. We understand that to truly be thankful, we have to direct our thanks to a source independent from, and away from our self. The definition of the word emphasizes that "we give thanks to" (TO!!) and is an expression of being grateful; of gratitude; an acknowledgment of what has been given; giving credit to; indebted to; and an appreciation directed to the source of what we've obtained. Whew! The dictionary emphasizes that true, deep thanks is extended outward.

So with all that said, it could still be argued that our thanks can indeed be extended outward without it going to God, the sustainer of all things. That approach is a sophomoric viewpoint where our thanks is given to other people. We are thankful to our employer; our government; our city services; our doctor; our teacher; our spouse; our parents; our children; our neighbor; businesses; etc, etc.... any individual who has had some type of impact in keeping our life from being a total disaster in the past year! And in those areas where God has to fit into the picture (such as weather and natural conditions) we substitute the generic term 'nature' as a simple replacement.

If we are to truly give full meaning to the word thanks, and the deeper concept behind it, then we must be thankful in the way in which it was meant. Our thanks must go beyond our self; it must extend past other people and groups; and it must reach all the way to Him who is the Creator, Giver and Sustainer of all. Our thanks has to reach the throne room of God, the One Who deserves to be thanked! Anything less than this is superficial and indicates that our heart is not authentically thankful like it should be!

Additional historical information:
The holiday of Thanksgiving is very much a 'religious' day set apart and sanctioned by the government. It was brought about in 1863 through the hard efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, who after a 40-year campaign, helped persuade President Abraham Lincoln to officially proclaim the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving to the Lord. Additionally, the holiday has it's roots in three historical proclamations dating back to 1676. The Christian God is strongly emphasized in all three proclamations. I am including links so you can read each of the proclamations... and be amazed at the strong emphasis on God. Here's the links...
(1) 1676 Thanksgiving Proclamation ---
     http://www.wilstar.com/holidays/thanksproc.htm
(2) George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation ---
     http://www.wilstar.com/holidays/wash_thanks.html
(3) Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation ---
     http://www.wilstar.com/holidays/thanksproc2.htm

_______________________________________________