By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
Dear Readers: With all the “wrongs” that are happening in our country these days, we still have much to be thankful for. With this in mind, I would like to share this column again as a reminder of Whom this great nation was founded on.
I have seen the Christmas commercials and decorations are already beginning to deck the halls.
And I hear people are already prancing throughout the malls, and there is nothing wrong with that, “tis the season,” after all (Okay, I’ll stop with the Dr. Seuss already. Lol).
But, perhaps we are dashing through November a bit quickly.
What happened to Thanksgiving Day?
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to celebrate the occasion of our Savior’s birth. In fact I do this all year round in my heart.
That’s why I believe it is also important to sacrifice one day, as a Christian nation, to stop and honor God with thanksgiving.
God is our Creator and as a nation we should honor Him as such.
Here are some others who have agreed …
“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor– and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” (Opening quote from the Thanksgiving Proclamation signed by George Washington, President of the United States of America, October 3, 1789)
“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown.” ~ Abraham Lincoln, at Thanksgiving time during the Civil War, 1863
“Unto no duty are we more dull and untoward, than to the praise of God, and thanksgiving unto him; neither is there any duty whereunto there is more need that we should be stirred up.” ~ David Dickson (Dick), Scottish theologian
“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” ~ Harry Ironside, American preacher
“Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher, American preacher and reformer
And here’s my favorite of these quotes …
“Thou hast given so much to me, give one thing more, – a grateful heart; not thankful when it pleaseth me, as if Thy blessings had spare days, but such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.” ~ George Herbert, Welsh-born English poet
How can we honor God? By recognizing Him as our Creator. Thanking Him for His goodness. By loving and respecting our families and neighbors. I know this may sound like just an old Sunday School teaching but if we would just start treating others as we would want to be treated then we would be honoring God.
Also, respecting positions of authority is honoring God. Parents. Teacher. Pastor. Law enforcement. Governing authorities. We don’t have to agree with them and we are called to speak the truth of God’s word when it is being compromised but we should respect the positions that they hold and not speak from a spirit of hate against that individual or platform. We should hate the deed but not the doer. Because positions of authority are a Godly principle. (Rom. Chpt. 13)
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 2 Cor. 4:15
I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works. Psalms 26:6-7
Offer to God thanksgiving,
And pay your vows to the Most High.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalms 50:14-15
So I would like to say, “Whoooa Rudolph. Hit the dimmer switch on the nose for just a bit longer,” while we give our Heavenly Father all the honor, praise and thanks ‘giving’ … forgiven … us JESUS from whom all blessings flow …
Dear Readers- Have a very HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING!!
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
