A National Holiday of Thanksgiving

Years ago, when studying US history, I remember learning that Abraham Lincoln, "invited my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea, and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father."  It wasn't that I was mildly surprised it took 16 US presidents to declare the national holiday that helped me remember this fact, but my amazement that President Lincoln did it in the middle of the Civil War.

At a time when our country was still at war,  mothers mourning the loss of hundreds of thousands of loved sons, and hatred kept neighbors divided, President Lincoln had the courage to call our country to be grateful for our many blessings.  In his words, "In the midst of an evil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, this year has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies."   Lincoln acknowledged the reality of evil, the suffering, and yet, he believed what was written in scripture from James 1:2-3; Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kind, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 

Count it all joy?  Gratefulness in the midst of suffering?   I find it easier to be grateful when things are going well, when the gift given is the one I asked for, when the Thanksgiving table is full.   I am not so good at being grateful in times when I feel abandoned, insufficient, or in need.  I think Abraham Lincoln touched on something vital about gratefulness if it isn't Pollyanna-joy in spite of hardship is the beginning of being grateful for the suffering itself because God is present even there (maybe especially there).

As I look forward to a long Thanksgiving holiday, I pray for our world which has too many mothers mourning, where neighbors are afraid of each other, where war persists.  I pray for our country which continues to be blessed by fruitful fields and healthful skies.  I pray in thanksgiving for our school where faith can be freely shared and our challenges are counted as joy.  I pray in thanks for your families who trust in our mission and who support us everyday.  I pray that we all set apart and observe our national day of Thanksgiving to our God who graces us all.

Joy springs from a grateful heart.  -Pope Francis

Peace,

Chris

P.S.-   I laugh at what  Erma Bombeck said about our contemporary Thanksgivings:

We take 18 hours to prepare Thanksgiving dinner.  We consume it in twelve minutes.  Half-times are twelve minutes.   This is not coincidence!

Happy Thanksgiving.