A Day Set Aside To Give Thanks
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Thanksgiving Day is almost here but retailers have already turned their focus to Christmas, and they want your focus there as well. This year rather than one big shopping day, retailers have declared December to be Black Friday Month. Can we STOP the madness? Believe it or not, Thanksgiving Day is meant to be more than turkey, football, discounted Christmas shopping and a day for the National Dog Show. It is a day to give thanks to God. Please read more.
The idea of setting aside a special day here in the United States to give thanks to God has been part of our country for a long time. In 1789, President George Washington made a proclamation about setting aside a day to give thanks. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” On June 28, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law the Holidays Act that made Thanksgiving a yearly appointed federal holiday. Since 1942, by act of Congress, and signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Thanksgiving received a permanent observation date on the fourth Thursday in November.
Is it too much to ask to stop the chaos for one day, or even for a few hours on one day, to purposefully spend time thanking our Almighty and Benevolent God for His countless blessings? No doubt, many of us will gather with family or friends for a big meal, but is that only what this day is all about? Sadly, some might even gather for the big meal without even taking time to offer thanks to God before their meal. I wonder how many of us will go to church on Thanksgiving Day?
We have so much to give God thanks for. I am purposely keeping today’s message short and to the point. This year on Thanksgiving Day, try to find a quiet place to get on your knees and lift up your arms towards Heaven and tell God just how thankful you are for every blessing in your life. At your Thanksgiving meal, I encourage you to invite everyone at table to share one thing that they are most thankful for. Let’s not let this day go by without giving thanks! It is also a great day to reach out to someone in need. Let’s share our bounty with others.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 gives us great advice when it states, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
I am thankful that God called me into this ministry, and I am thankful for each and every one of you who read this weekly message. I pray that you have a joy filled Thanksgiving Day. Please consider taking a minute to post below something that you are thankful for.
Heavenly Father, I could never possibly remember all of the things that I have to be thankful for. I am surrounded by countless blessings. There is one blessing that stands out about all others. I am most thankful for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen!
AMDG
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Forgive me Lord for wallowing in your blessings (as if I deserved them)
I am most thankful for our pastor who is an amazing teacher and preacher and who is providing many lessons and opportunities to us to deepen our faith especially in this increasingly Godless popular culture. Brian you are doing much the same with these 4th
Day Letters. Thanks also to you.
Brian
Very well stated.
On thanksgiving day & as I do often I’ll be thankful to the Lord for the gift of your ministry & friendship.
Prayers for Gods continued blessings on you Mary Beth & your ministry
Michael T. ??
I am thankful to be a living source of Thanksgiving to someone this week. And to be thoughtful of thanks giving every week.
Enjoy a beautiful day with your family, Brian.
Brian, I have so much to be thankful for. One of those things is that I had the blessing of meeting you at your retreat at SCI Benner and to get introduced to your ministry. That indeed was a blessing. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
You, dear friend, are at the top of my “thankful for” list. Over the years your ministry has been a gift
to both Mike and I. May you enjoy the blessings in your life this Thanksgiving.
I pray our paths cross again soon.
We are indeed thankful that you and Mary Beth crossed our path. Ken and I are so blessed to know you both. God Bless you and thank you.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.??
Winnie
Thank you for your kind post. We are thankful for you too!
Happy Thanksgiving
Brian: I am grateful that my life’s journey has crossed the path of men like you who have committed their lives to the well-being of others. I am thankful for forgiveness, for in forgiveness there is hope and in hope lies the joy of a life worth living. As your devotional today suggests, I will give thanks on Thursday. However, my gratitude will be no more intentional or focused that it was yesterday or will be tomorrow.
I’ll see you up there, Brian.
Gene
I love your last sentence. Happy Thanksgiving!
Brian
I am thankful for each day and to see what God has planned for me and how it will unfold !!
Barbara
Amen to that!
Brian
Brian,
YOU are on my list of ‘what or who are you thankful for’.
Thank you for all you do !
May you and your family share a very blessed Thanksgiving
Cathy Thompson
Cathy
You are most welcomed! Happy Thanksgiving!
Brian
THANK YOU LORD for your dying and rising for my many sins! Just knowing your forgiveness keeps me hopeful, so that I can make it through my times of suffering. Thank you for Cursillo and the lifelong friendships I have gained and Please bless these wonderful friends and prayer warriors for their fervent belief in your Love! Thank You for all who have helped me whether for selfish or godly reasons. Thank you for keeping me physically strong even though my body is suffering from the effects of friction and aging and please keep me going strong until you decide to call me home!
I am thankful for the 12 apostles and the disciples who knew Jesus, walked with Him, learned from him and gave their lives to pass on his teachings to us.
Brian
Good morning and thank you for the reminder of what we should (and are) thankful for. I am thankful for life, opportunity and for family. Linda and I hope you and your family share wonderful thanksgiving time together.
Ellis Fincher
I am thankful for family and the opportunity to spend time with them. Recent events have reminded me how precious and short our time together is.
thank you Brian for your ministry.
Dennis Lobmeyer
Dennis
You are so right. We need to give God thanks for every moment we have with our family.
Brian
I thank you for refreshing our friendship through our retreat and for your beautiful words of wisdom. Your weekly inspirational thoughts are truly a blessing. Hope you have a nice Thanksgiving with your family.
Pat
Thank you for your kind words. I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!
Brian
Brian,
I give God thanks today and every day for His Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, and Grace. I can’t imagine life without Him nor life without the many blessings He’s put in my path, of which you are one. I pray that those who don’t have our Lord, Jesus in their lives, those without Hope or anything to live for. I pray that God will keep knocking on the door to their hearts and help them to know and feel the constant outpouring of His Loving Presence in their lives.
Thank you, Brian, for your faithfulness to your ministry and to Jesus. Please pray with me that all people will come to know and love Him better so we can serve Him better. Please join me in remembering in your prayers, all our clergy and consecrated ones who make it possible for us to celebrate the Blessed Eucharist on Thursday and everyday.
I always look forward to Tuesdays because the 4th-Day-Letter appears in my email and I will receive something wonderful to reflect on. Happy Thanksgiving, Brian to you and your family. May God continue to bless you in abundance.