"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." - Psalm 107:1

The History of Thanksgiving in America

Thanksgiving holds a special place in the heart of American tradition, tracing its roots back to 1621 when the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast. This gathering was born out of gratitude—the Pilgrims had endured a harsh winter, and with the help of the indigenous people, they learned to cultivate the land and survived to see a bountiful harvest.

While harvest festivals were common in many cultures, the American Thanksgiving tradition evolved uniquely over the centuries. President George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day in 1789, calling upon Americans to express gratitude for the successful conclusion of the Revolutionary War and the ratification of the Constitution. However, it wasn't until 1863, during the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday to be celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November.

What We Celebrate on Thanksgiving Day

Today, Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends gather to share a meal and reflect on their blessings. Traditional foods like turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie grace tables across the nation, echoing the harvest feast of centuries past. But beyond the food and festivities, Thanksgiving represents something deeper—a pause in our busy lives to acknowledge the abundance we've received.

We celebrate:

• Family and Community: Coming together with loved ones to strengthen bonds and create memories
• Harvest and Provision: Recognizing the food on our tables and the resources that sustain us
• Freedom and Heritage: Honoring the courage of those who came before us and the liberties we enjoy
• Acts of Kindness: Many use this day to serve others through food drives, volunteering, and charitable giving

Thanksgiving as a Day to Give Thanks to God

At its core, Thanksgiving is a spiritual practice—a recognition that our blessings flow from a source greater than ourselves. The Pilgrims who celebrated that first harvest feast did so with hearts full of gratitude to God for delivering them through hardship and providing for their needs. This spirit of divine thanksgiving has remained woven into the fabric of the holiday.

Scripture repeatedly calls us to give thanks to the Lord. Psalm 107:1 reminds us that God's goodness and enduring love are worthy of our gratitude. When we pause on Thanksgiving Day to count our blessings, we acknowledge God's hand in our lives—His provision, protection, and faithfulness through every season.

Thanksgiving invites us to:

• Reflect on God's Faithfulness: Looking back on the year and recognizing how He has guided, sustained, and blessed us
• Cultivate Grateful Hearts: Shifting our focus from what we lack to the abundance we've been given
• Share Our Blessings: Extending generosity to others as an expression of gratitude for what God has done
• Worship Through Gratitude: Offering thanksgiving as an act of worship, acknowledging that every good gift comes from above

A Time for Grateful Hearts

As we gather around our tables this Thanksgiving, let us remember that gratitude is more than a feeling—it's a choice to recognize God's goodness in our lives. Whether we're celebrating abundance or walking through difficulty, we can always find reasons to give thanks. His love truly does endure forever.

This Thanksgiving, may we embrace the true spirit of the holiday: hearts overflowing with gratitude to God for His countless blessings, His unfailing love, and His faithful presence in our lives. Let us give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Shalom & Grace!