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A Short Reflection on Thanksgiving
As we celebrate the annual event of Thanksgiving which falls
on every 4th Thursday of November, let us take a moment or two to
reflect on the significance of celebrating this day.
Thanksgiving as the name suggests, it is a day we put aside
to remember the blessings that we have and we give thanks for them.
The history behind Thanksgiving
It became an official Federal holiday in 1863 when the Civil
War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a nation day of “Thanksgiving and
Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens”, to be celebrated on
the last Thursday in November. Also there are reports that the original
Thanksgiving proclamation was signed by George Washington. As a federal and
public holiday in the US, Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays of the
year. Together with Christmas and New Year, Thanksgiving is a part of the
broader holiday season.
The event that Americans commonly call the “First
Thanksgiving” was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the
New World in 1621. This feast lasted three days, and it was attended by 90
Native Americans (as accounted by attendee Edward Winslow) and 53 Pilgrims. The
New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating “thanksgivings”
- days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end
of a drought. (Info taken from Wikipedia)
The Question
Maybe we now ask, why do we specially set aside a day to give
thanks? My suggestion is because we humans are forgetful beings and selfish in
nature. We tend to take things for granted and we are not gracious people. We
expect things to be done for us as and when we want it done. We grumble and
complain too much and express very little amount of gratitude. Speaking as a
Singaporean, I must confess that our typical Singapore culture is that we are
known to complain about every nifty gritty thing. We complain about the
Air-condition not working, we complain about traffic jams, crowded buses and
trains, we complain about not having enough buses, even late buses… Let’s face
it, we complain about almost anything and everything. How often do we remember to
say, thank you to the cleaner who helps clear our tables after and before our
meals to ensure we have pleasant environment to eat in? When was the last time, we thanked and appreciated the road sweepers for helping us to keep our country clean and green? Not very often though, if we are being honest.
We are like the Israelites in the Bible, they are a bunch of
ungrateful people who are constantly complaining and grumbling. During the 40
years of wandering in the desert, how many times have they grumbled and
complained against Moses and the Lord? They grumbled about having no water to
drink because it was bitter (Ex 15:23-24). They grumbled about having no food
in the second month their departure from Egypt (Ex 16:2-7). Again at Chapter
17, the people of God complained again about water in verses 1 – 7. Within a
span of 2 short months, they already complained 3 times and again they
complained and grumbled against Moses for taking so long to come down from
Sinai (while he was receiving the 10 commandments from the Lord). When Moses
came back from Sinai the Israelite had built them a golden calf. They had soon
forgotten about all the miracles they have seen and the goodness of their God,
they have experienced during the time of deliverance in Egypt right through the
crossing of the red sea). It seems like God was at their beck and call and He
was their servant instead of the other way around. Aren’t we (humans in
general) like the Israelites as well?
While it is good we should set aside a specific day for thanksgiving, let us not forget to give thanks on a regular basis. It is said that a grateful
person is a happy person, because we are appreciative of the things and are
done on our behalf.
We as God’s children have many things to give thanks for -
Food on our table, a roof over our head, a job so that we can earn a living, a school
we can go to, family and friends who care and our church family. We praise and
thank God for every blessing of His daily provision, for the ability to live,
for the air that we breathe, the food we eat and the water that we drink.
“For God so loved the
world, that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him, shall not die
but have everlasting life” (John 3:16.) If we can’t think of anything to thank God
for, at least that reason alone is enough to compel us to say “Thank You Lord”.
While we still have breath and are alive, there is another day, another chance
to make tomorrow better.
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will
for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
It is a privilege to be able to be alive. Let us take time
to appreciate the things and people around us. Learn to be gracious, learn to
say thank you, and in every circumstance learn to thank God!
Prayer- Oh Lord, teach us to be grateful and be appreciative
of the things we have and towards the people around us and not to take things
for granted. Grant us a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude, humble us and let
us be generous in our words of affirmation. Teach us even in our busy moments, to
take time just to enjoy and be grateful for the simple things in life such as a
cup of tea with a good friend, a stroll in the park enjoying the breeze the
beauty of nature which You have given us but most of all the gift of life
itself. Thank you for loving us and blessing us with so many things!”
Serving with you in His Kingdom with love;
Princess Michelle -
Beloved Daughter of the Most High King
