Remembering the Roots of Thankfulness

by  Barbara Latta

The Bible is filled with verses telling us to be thankful. God knows our hearts, apart from

Puritans suffered months of hardship at sea.

Him, will revert to selfishness so He continues to remind us that being thankful will bring peace to our souls.

In 1620 a group of travelers set sail for a new life apart from the religious persecution that had been inflicted upon them. These people were so hungry for the ability to worship God according to biblical standards and not the edict of the King of England, they were willing to endure months at sea, lack of food, sickness, storms, cold and cramped quarters because what they wanted was worth the hardship. Now hundreds of years later, we benefit from their sacrifices and the others who followed them and settled this country.

 During the Civil War, with bloodshed from war prevalent and the country divided against itself, Abraham Lincoln called for a day of national thanksgiving to God for His blessings to the land. Part of his proclamation included these words:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and

Lincoln called for giving thanks during war.

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. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. 

Despite the country’s pain and division, there was much to be thankful for. When we bask in our freedom and comfort, we can sometimes forget what others have gone through to give us what we have.

The Bible tells us that one of the signs of a hardened heart is unthankfulness. Because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in the thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:21).

Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy the bounty!

Count your blessings this year as you celebrate our nation’s founding. Even the smallest blessings deserve the biggest thanks to our Creator who has made the highest sacrifice so we could have freedom in our soul.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Feel free to share your blessings.

Tweetable:

Unthankfulness creates hardened hearts (click to tweet)

The smallest blessing deserves the biggest thanks (click totweet)