I’ve been
thinking all week of something original I could write about on Thanksgiving. Of
course we should remember all the things that we are thankful for – our
families, our homes, our jobs, our freedom, and of course, God. Or the specific
things that I personally am thankful for – Dino the wonder dog (who had
diarrhea for four days leaving me worried about his health), the beautiful
backyard that I sometimes feel I don’t enjoy nearly enough, having had the
chance to return to Kenya for the third time, and despite all of my worsening
aches and pains, I still enjoy basically good health. Or the really obscure
things we all take for granted such as the internet and our cellphones and GPS
(which I still am not sold on).
Next I could
extrapolate on that list. Or add more obscure items. Or take another tact all
together and share the history of the first Thanksgiving (as if you have never
heard that before). There is of course the history of making Thanksgiving a
national holiday, which occurred during the height of the Civil War when
Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that all Americans should ask God to “commend to his
tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in
the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.” That doesn’t
sound like we were expected to be so thankful.
We also
sometimes think that we Americans are the only ones to recognize a national day
of Thanksgiving, but other countries have similar observances. Though our
Thanksgiving is traced back to 1621, the Canadian Thanksgiving is believed to
have its roots in 1578, when the explorer Martin Frobisher gave thanks for the
safe journey from England.
Germany
celebrates Erntedankfest or the
Harvest Thanksgiving Festival and Japan has a Labor Thanksgiving Day which has
its roots dating back thousands of years ago to a harvest festival but which
was officially established following World War II and is not only for giving
thanks but to commemorate the labor force. And there are many more such stories from
around the world.
Which leaves
me where? I’m not quite sure. But in addition to all of this, I am also
thankful that I get to share these random thoughts with all of you, whether you
are thankful back or not, however, is hard to tell.
Lake Superior in Michigan's UP, one of the places I am most thankful for. |
3 comments:
I'm thankful for your friendship & read all your random thoughts. Enjoy your day.
Thanks, Denise. There will be a special blog post in your honor next week. Watch for it!
You are hilarious.
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