A Thanksgiving Reflection

November 21, 2017

Along with the 4^th of July, Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated and welcomed feasts of the year. I like this day because it’s also among the least commercialized holidays. Of course, Black Friday follows Thanksgiving, but I digress.

History of Thanksgiving

I was studying Thanksgiving, and I found that the tradition can trace its American roots to Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts. The colonists held a 3-day feast that included local Native Americans in the fall of 1621. They celebrated and gave thanks for their first harvest.

In 1789, during George Washington’s presidency , the federal government sanctioned the first official national Thanksgiving. What I found interesting was how the President described it, so I provided a few excerpts from his 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 requested me ‘to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giving and prayer, acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God’.

“Now therefore I do recommend (this day) to be devoted to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good. 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, for the signal and manifold mercies, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations.”

A lot to be Thankful For

Wow, Washington certainly wasn’t shy about invoking God’s name and encouraging Americans to thank and honor Him. And there’s plenty for which we can give thanks. Consider the following:

Most Americans own homes. Ownership rates grew from 43.6% in 1940 to 64% today. Not including a few outliers (NY, DC) the rates are closer to 70%.
Current unemployment is 4.1%, lowest in 17 years.
GDP is growing rapidly hitting 3.0% in the 3^rd quarter of 2017.
The Dow continues expanding, 45 highs since last November and it now exceeds 22,000.
Some 60% of us are optimistic and hopeful about America’s future.
87% of Americans believe in God and most believe faith is very important.

I could go on, but suffice it to say there is much for which we can be thankful. Sure there’s poverty and other problems in the US. There’s also growing inequality here, and it needs our continuing attention. Yet, a Forbes report gave an interesting perspective on poverty in the US. “The poor in the US are richer than around 70% of all the people extant (In existence). It is true that there is more inequality in the US: but this isn’t because the poor are poorer, the rich are richer.”

Prager on Happiness

When talk show host, Dennis Prager, wrote Happiness is a Serious Problem, he said this about gratitude:

“Because gratitude is the key to happiness, anything that undermines gratitude must undermine happiness. And nothing undermines gratitude as much as expectations. There is an inverse relationship between expectations and gratitude: The more expectations you have, the less gratitude you will have.”

Not that we shouldn’t have expectations, but every once in a while it’s also important to give thanks. According to a recent Harris Poll, only 33% of Americans say they’re happy. A little time for reflection and thanks might go a long way in improving that number; and what better time for that than the Thanksgiving holiday!

So to all of you who follow our blog, thanks and happy Thanksgiving!

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A Thanksgiving Reflection

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