A New Thanksgiving Celebration?
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Yesterday afternoon we had some errands to run in town and while we were out, I noticed something that is taking place in our country today. I noticed that some of the fast food restaurants had on their signs that they will be opened on Thanksgiving Day. But not only these but there are stores opened on this special holiday.
I remember when I was a child that the only store you could find opened on Thanksgiving Day was a gas station. Over the last 15-20 years some of the stores started opening up on Thanksgiving Day to have sales and make the almighty dollar. My husband told me that he remembers the McDonald's in our town would open for breakfast and then be closed by lunch time, since he would stop before going hunting. I grew up in Atlanta and I honestly don't remember any McDonald's being opened but then again, we were not in the habit of going out to eat while trying to get to my Maw Maw's to celebrate the Day of Thanksgiving.
Please tell me, why would anyone want to go shopping on this special day?... I know that there are many people who have no family or no family in the area, so they go and have a dinner out. But still! When people are going to out these places on Thanksgiving, they are expecting someone to be there to prepare and serve that food. But what about that employee's family and their celebration?
Americans have gotten so far away from our historical, Biblical roots that it is even crossing over into our holidays. Have we forgotten what Thanksgiving Day means? It means that we are to take this day and give thanks unto God, for all the blessings that He has given to us. Have we forgotten why the Pilgrims celebrated a Day of Thanksgiving? They were Thankful to God who brought them through all the struggles that they endured the first year they were here. If you remember over half of the people died during the first winter. They did not know how to "care" for themselves here in this new world, until the Indians came and taught them. These people were Thankful for God allowing them to still be alive and able to worship Him.
Our Pastor handed out a copy of the George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation, on Sunday. When I read it, I was so moved. To know that our first president set aside a day, for our new country to celebrate a day with Thanksgiving and Praises unto our God.
I remember when I was a child that the only store you could find opened on Thanksgiving Day was a gas station. Over the last 15-20 years some of the stores started opening up on Thanksgiving Day to have sales and make the almighty dollar. My husband told me that he remembers the McDonald's in our town would open for breakfast and then be closed by lunch time, since he would stop before going hunting. I grew up in Atlanta and I honestly don't remember any McDonald's being opened but then again, we were not in the habit of going out to eat while trying to get to my Maw Maw's to celebrate the Day of Thanksgiving.
Please tell me, why would anyone want to go shopping on this special day?... I know that there are many people who have no family or no family in the area, so they go and have a dinner out. But still! When people are going to out these places on Thanksgiving, they are expecting someone to be there to prepare and serve that food. But what about that employee's family and their celebration?
Americans have gotten so far away from our historical, Biblical roots that it is even crossing over into our holidays. Have we forgotten what Thanksgiving Day means? It means that we are to take this day and give thanks unto God, for all the blessings that He has given to us. Have we forgotten why the Pilgrims celebrated a Day of Thanksgiving? They were Thankful to God who brought them through all the struggles that they endured the first year they were here. If you remember over half of the people died during the first winter. They did not know how to "care" for themselves here in this new world, until the Indians came and taught them. These people were Thankful for God allowing them to still be alive and able to worship Him.
Our Pastor handed out a copy of the George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation, on Sunday. When I read it, I was so moved. To know that our first president set aside a day, for our new country to celebrate a day with Thanksgiving and Praises unto our God.
Let's not forget why we have a Thanksgiving Day!
[New York, 3 October 1789]
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.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.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go: Washington
