we just finished a sermon series on God's Will based on the three commands recorded by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "be joyful always; pray continuallly; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (emphasis mine).
while preparing for this past weekend's message on endless thanks, i returned to the Thanksgiving Day Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. i learned a lot in the process, specifically Sarah Josepha Hale's 36 year campaign to see the nation return to George Washington's proclamation of a national and annual day of thanks to God.
the proclamation that Abraham Lincoln gave was most likely written by his Secretary of State and former political adversary, William Seward. Seward was stirred and inspired by Hale's letter -- a letter that had gone unanswered and unsupported by President's Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan. Seward read the letter and made the pitch to Lincoln who affirmed the idea. Four days later, Lincoln read the proclamation and we've celebrated the holiday annually, though at different times, since then.
as i read the proclamation (proclamation), i was struck by the following,
the day that includes being thankful TO GOD,
"a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens"
is to also be a day to be repentant before God,
"And I recommend to them 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"
a day of prayer for those who have suffered loss,
"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 a day to seek again purity and alignment with His divine purposes
"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"
i know that it is sad that as a nation we increasingly forget the thanks in this holiday and move onto the getting in Christmas--but the thankfulness is just the tip of all we're forgetting to do. we ought to be mindful that with all of our blessings, we ought to confess, remember those with less and loss, and seek to align ourselves with God's will again.
