THANKSGIVING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE
Commentary 
Courtesy of Bill Ellis
Syndicated columnist

When I was in elementary and high school, not many years ago,
Thanksgiving was one
of the most exciting
times of the school
year. It was dramatic in
every way. Little boys
and girls as well as
middle school and high
school students
enjoyed their
reenactment of the first
Thanksgiving in
America.

We all had a part to
play. The Pilgrims, who
had come from England,
are usually pictured as
wearing black and
white clothing, hats
and haircuts were
unusual and their
speech was nothing
like it is today. Our
teachers directed us in
those productions.
Some of us became the
friendly Native Americans, the people who were here before our ancestors arrived.

It has been a predominantly religious observance from day one. The Pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving after some difficult months had caused serious hardships.  It was not an easy time. It was 388 years ago in the autumn of 1621 that the first Pilgrim Thanksgiving was observed. William Bradford, Governor of the Plymouth Colony, a zealous Puritan and sincere Christian led them in this expression of genuine gratitude.

Governor Bradford instructed the men, their wives and children to gather at the meeting house between the hours of 9 and 12 in the morning. They were to listen to their pastor and offer their thanksgiving to Almighty God. There was also singing of hymns and psalms and time for prayers.

It was a religious service as every Thanksgiving observance should be. Bradford included these words in his famous historical work of 1647, Of Plymouth Plantation; “Last and not least, they cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least making some ways toward it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work.” Found in America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, authored by superb American historian, William J. Federer. Every teacher, pastor, parent, student and politician should have this classic work. You may order it from: FAME Publishing, Coppell, Texas, Phone: 1-800-404-FAME.

This week I heard one of our nation’s outstanding public speakers, Jeffrey A. Johnson, the author of the excellent new book, Got Style?, express some doubt that our Thanksgiving Day, the one Christian religious holiday originating in America, could survive as we have known it sandwiched in between the extravagant commercialization of Halloween and Christmas. It seems that one is becoming increasingly pagan and that we are forgetting that Jesus Christ is the only reason for the Christmas season. It will be impossible to have a Merry Christmas if Christ is not the central figure in it all.

Dr. Jeffrey Johnson called us all to practice “Thanks Living”. He added, “If you are grateful, do something to show it.”

President Abraham Lincoln, in the midst of the Civil War, issued this proclamation in 1863.

“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessing of fruitful field and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they came, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the every-watchful providence of Almighty God.”

This proclamation established Thanksgiving Day as a legal, national holiday. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November to be the official “National Thanksgiving Day.” The U. S. Congress finally ratified this day in 1941.

Words, uttered long before the first Thanksgiving, remind us to “Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4).

© 2009 Wm. C. Ellis
All Rights Reserved

Bill Ellis
Award Winning Syndicated Columnist
P. O. Box 345
Scott Depot, WV 25560
Phone: 304-757-6089
www.BillEllis.net