The Natural Way — A Thanksgiving proclamation
By Janice Stramel
Friday, November 20, 2009 10:38 AM PST
With my fumbling computer skills, I searched for something meaningful about our upcoming holiday, Thanksgiving.
All I found were cutesy, shallow, secular articles at first. Then I wised up and typed in “Proclamation” of Thanksgiving. And sure enough, I got to the beginnings of this holiday.
Not only do we recognize that the Pilgrims celebrated thanks in their own way, but it seems our first president signed a proclamation declaring it official on Oct. 3, 1789.
I’d like to share with you what George Washington had to say, and I hope it removes any and all doubt as to what our Founding Fathers desired and intended for this nation:
“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 favour; 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 PUBLICK THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and 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 TWENTY-SIXTH 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 ... 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 ...”
Due to space limitations, I cannot include the entire document. However, I hope that President George Washington and I have shown you that, in the beginning, Thanksgiving absolutely was not a secular holiday — no matter how hard society tries to turn us that way today.
And about those national transgressions — is George rolling over in his grave?
For comments or questions regarding this column, contact Janice at Christian Counseling Services, 100 S. Iowa Ave., Fruitland, ID 83619, (208) 452-4378. The views and opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the Argus Observer.
