On Oct. 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln, at the urging of magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale, who had long advocated a national day of thanksgiving, issued a proclamation, which was actually written by Secretary of State William Seward. The proclamation spoke of the "gracious gifts of the most high God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy." The proclamation went on to urge that these "gracious gifts" should be "solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people," and that on the "last Thursday of November next," Americans should observe "a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."
How many Americans today would feel comfortable with the sentiments expressed in Lincoln's proclamation, I wonder. The idea that Thanksgiving should be a day to pray and give thanks to God will probably be far from the minds of many people gathered around their tables this day. Moreover, it is difficult for many us to imagine how someone could feel thankful in the midst of a war. Perhaps, though, there is a lesson we can learn from those in Lincoln's time about being thankful for what we have, regardless of the circumstances.
In closing, I wish all of my readers a Happy Thanksgiving. May we all remember not only for what, but also to Whom, we should be thankful!
Image of Abraham Lincoln from brittanica.com