This
month we celebrate a national Thanksgiving Day. Few today actually know what
that means I’m sad to say. Many think of football, turkey and dressing, and
overeating. We in the South have been greatly blessed and should, like our
forefathers, be first in thankfulness to God. Over four hundred years ago in
Jamestown there were devout prayers of thanksgiving for safe deliverance in a
tedious ocean crossing on May 13, 1607.
There
were many firsts in the history of Thanksgiving in this land and among its
inhabitants. Please consider some of them with me!
America’s
first official Thanksgiving was at Berkeley Plantation on the James River in
Virginia. When the colonists reached Berkeley Hundred on December 4, 1619, in
what is now Charles City County, they held a religious service on shore to
thank the Almighty God for safety and good health. The service was simple in
form and was held under the pine trees. The captain of the Margaret was charged
by the London Company with the injunction,
We
ordaine the day of our ship’s arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in
the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of
thanksgiving to Almighty God.
The
first presidential proclamation was by a Southerner, a Virginian, the father of
our country, on January 1, 1795,
I,
George Washington, President of the United States do recommend to all religious
societies and denominations, and to all persons whomsoever, within the United
States, to set apart and observe Thursday, the 19th day of February next, as a
day of public thanksgiving and prayer, and on that day to meet together and
render sincere and hearty thanks to the great Ruler of nations for the manifold
and signal mercies which distinguish our lot as a nation … and at the same time
humbly and fervently beseech the [same] kind Author of these blessings
graciously to prolong them to us; to imprint on our hearts a deep and solemn
sense of our obligations to him….
President
Jefferson Davis of the Confederate States of America gave A Thanksgiving
Proclamation in 1861,
WHEREAS,
it hath pleased Almighty God, the Sovereign Disposer of events, to protect and
defend us hitherto in our conflicts with our enemies as to be unto them a
shield.
And
whereas, with grateful thanks we recognize His hand and acknowledge that not
unto us, but unto Him, belongeth the victory, and in humble dependence upon His
almighty strength, and trusting in the justness of our purpose, we appeal to
Him that He may set at naught the efforts of our enemies, and humble them to
confusion and shame.
Given
under hand and seal of the Confederate States at Richmond, this the 31st day of
October, year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty one.
By
the President, JEFFERSON DAVIS
Southern
history is replete with public and private expressions of thanksgiving to the
Triune God of the Bible. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “In every thing give
thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess.
5:18). How do we describe or define thanksgiving? Thomas Brooks, a minister in
the 1600’s, wrote a definitive statement,
Thanksgiving
is a self-denying grace; it is an uncrowning ourselves and the creatures, to
set the crown upon the head of our Creator; it is the making ourselves a
footstool, that God may be lifted up upon His throne, and ride in holy triumph
over all; it is a grace that gives God the supremacy in all our hearts,
thoughts, desires, words, and works. Self-love, flesh and blood, and many low
and carnal considerations may carry men to pray, and hear, and talk, etc. The
whip may work a shame to beg, but thankfulness is the free will offering of a
child. There is nothing that so clearly and so fully speaks out your sincerity
and spiritual ingenuity, as thankfulness does. Therefore, weak saints, if you
would have a substantial evidence of your sincerity and spiritual ingenuity, be
thankful for a little grace. The little birds do not sip one drop of water, but
they look up, as if they meant to give thanks, to shew us what we should do for
every drop of grace, etc.”
“Stonewall” Jackson made it a practice in his Christian life to
always give a prayer of thanks to the Lord when he lifted a drink of water to
his lips. Paul said, “in every thing give thanks.” Do we have the attitude of
thanks that we might show the Lord proper gratitude? We should be very thankful
and give thanks especially for our Redeemer and King the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15).
(from SCV Alabama Division Commander Jimmy Hill and former Commander Gary Carlyle)
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