I Give Thanks

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie

The year was 1863 and the president of The United States of America was Abraham Lincoln. It was on October 3, 1863 that Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day a national holiday. A day set aside to thank God for His mercy and goodness and kindness — against the backdrop of a brutal civil war.

Sarah Josepha Hale, was 74 years old when she wrote to Abraham Lincoln. In her letter she suggested that he declare a national day of thanksgiving. She also shared how she had spent 15 years advocating for this. With Sarah’s prompting, Abraham Lincoln presented his proclamation, less then 30 days after her letter was written.

This woman, who carried a burden for her people, and a heart of gratitude, — was not unfamiliar to pain and suffering. Sarah married David Hale in 1813. Together they had five children. Less than nine years after she married, she became a widow. Sarah choose to wear black for the remainder of her life — to signify her grief and state of mourning. Living with the reality of war and loss and uncertainty — Sarah never gave up her strong voice. She penned over 50 books in her lifetime. She spoke when it was unpopular and she was relentless in her fight for justice.

Death. Lack. Social Status. War. Rejection. Age. Gender. Did not stop Sarah Josepha Hale. I believe something bigger fueled her heart — passion.

The word passion comes from Latin root pati-, meaning suffering, or enduring.

Could it be that her ability to thank God in the midst of the mess — gave her tenacity — to power through? Was finding God’s goodness amidst uncertainty and upheaval — her life line? Did trusting a GOOD GOD — in an upside down world — give her vision? Did suffering introduce her to the purest form of love?

I won’t know the answers to these questions on this side of eternity — this will have to wait. What I do know, is that I want to be like Sarah Josepha Hale — undeterred, passionate, and purposed. Fueled by rich springs of thanksgiving that bubble up from the deepest parts of who I am — in every season and all the time.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

This past year has dealt the world lots to fear and plenty of uncertainties. Both globally and locally.

Thanksgiving 2020, looks very different to many Americans.

Yet, one thing remains — God is good.

The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:9

Maybe nothing says this with more clarity then the following excerpt from Lincoln’s proclamation, (written after years of civil war). “The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. 

As I prepare to close out tonight and open tomorrow — I thank God. I’m thankful for the freedom to celebrate His goodness. I thank Him for never, ever, — leaving me. I thank Him for being so much bigger then all the upside down in this world. I thank Him for healing heartaches and restoring broken souls. I thank Him for leaving the 99 to rescue the one. I thank Him for simple pleasures. I thank Him for my family and friends. I thank Him for breath that fills my lungs and another day to celebrate! I thank Him for grace and mercy and forgiveness and love — all, of which I am destitute without.

I thank God!

I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help. But then I realize that our true help and protection come only from the Lord, our Creator who made the heavens and the earth. Psalm 121:1-2