On this last Thursday of November from California to New Jersey Americans celebrate a holiday unique to our nation, but often historically misrepresented. School children are taught its origins are from plentiful feast between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans or a variation of such. However, immensely helpful Squanto may have been in helping the pilgrims this does not properly explain the history of Thanksgiving.

President Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863. This was during America’s most divisive moments of our history. This was a time when brothers shed the blood of brothers and sons the blood of fathers in the Civil War. The South and North battled each other, dividing even families. Lincoln, as had George Washington before him, occasionally declared days of Thanksgiving, but the words in Lincoln’s speech nationalizing it as an American holiday to be celebrated by generations to come, are vital in understanding the religious history of America. In the mist of this fighting which divided a nation Lincoln called for a day of unity. As was common in early America, religion was not anathema (how times have changed). Much to the contrary, it was the guiding light. That is evident in these exerpts from Lincoln’s less famous than it should be Thanksgiving Proclamation:

“Today is a day of prayer and fasting, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnities, and the offering of feverent supplications to the almighty God for the safety and welfare of these states, his blessings on their arms, and a speedy restoration of peace”.

“It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite 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 next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

I remain baffled by secularist and atheist trying to wedge religion out of history. Religion has helped bring Americans together in times of great pain. It was the backbone of the antislavery movement.  It is what has given this great land the character to sustain and to overcome.

For some this Thanksgiving may include a smaller turkey than in years previous. A possible precursor to fewer gifts under the Christmas tree for some come December as unemployment rises and consumer confidence declines. But let us not forget the true gifts God has blessed us with. Let us not forget our blessed gift to sit down with our friends and family as we take a break from our other activities to be with those we love. Most importantly, let us never forget the sacrifices so many of Americans have made from the Revolutionary war to our current War on Terror, so we can dine securely in a free land.  We have much to be thankful for, not just food and football, and we must never forget that.