Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Thankful to who?
A quick post: I am dumbstruck this year wondering who on earth non-Christians (and especially non-religious people) give thanks to on Thanksgiving. Without the Giver of all good gifts to be thankful to, it becomes a really meaningless holiday that is just about eating a lot and watching football. Oh wait...
// posted by BLP @ 1:57 PM 
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Well, down in these be-nighted nether ends of the earth we do not have a "thanksgiving" Day. Neither, I believe, does a very large slice of the English-speaking world. Nor, I am certain, does a very great majority of the population of this planet.
Not, as you might imagine, because they have nothing to be thankful for.
The reason lies in Lincoln's Presidential decree that gave rise to the celebration of Thanksgiving Day.
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-alincoln-tgiving.html gives a copy if you want it...
So, enjoy your Thanksgiving Day. Spare a thought, during the day, "that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union. "There are thoughts in that proclamation which apply as much now, in the history of your nation, as they did in 1863 when it was made.
For me, I am grateful to be alive every day that comes my way. To whom? Nothing more than the fact that I can think the thought, see the day, and know. I need nothing more.
I do not need the Presidential decree setting aside a day for giving thanks. It is something that I think of every waking moment. I do not need a god to give thanks to. I am just happy that I can enjoy this life that I have.
But that is where we part company on the matter.
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Not, as you might imagine, because they have nothing to be thankful for.
The reason lies in Lincoln's Presidential decree that gave rise to the celebration of Thanksgiving Day.
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-alincoln-tgiving.html gives a copy if you want it...
So, enjoy your Thanksgiving Day. Spare a thought, during the day, "that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union. "There are thoughts in that proclamation which apply as much now, in the history of your nation, as they did in 1863 when it was made.
For me, I am grateful to be alive every day that comes my way. To whom? Nothing more than the fact that I can think the thought, see the day, and know. I need nothing more.
I do not need the Presidential decree setting aside a day for giving thanks. It is something that I think of every waking moment. I do not need a god to give thanks to. I am just happy that I can enjoy this life that I have.
But that is where we part company on the matter.
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