Happy Thanksgiving Day 2020! I’m assuming it’s safe to get out of bed this morning to celebrate our oldest tradition.
One of our popular dictums is that “familiarity breeds contempt.” The meaning of the phrase is that we become so used to something that we no longer view it with the respect we used to give it.
Think of the first car you got, how excited you were over the color, the make and model, the features, the fun in driving it and how proud you were to own it. Several years later, after driving it day-after-day, taking it into the shop for this repair or that, dinging the bumpers and no longer getting jealous looks from your peers, it’s just part of the background noise in your life. It’s not anything special—it’s just “there.” What happened? You got familiar with it, took it for granted, lost your sense of gratitude for it.
The same happens with relationships, jobs, possessions, principles and … holidays.
I don’t think I’m far off when I say that we’ve become so familiar with Thanksgiving that it’s lost much of its original meaning and intent. Add in the cultural resentment we’re living with in 2020. Statues and history are being torn down amid cries of “white supremacy” and “cultural appropriation” and “stolen land.” Schools either censor the stories of Christopher Columbus and the Pilgrims or describe them as disastrous events whose reverberations are still felt today. Such accusations lead to doubt, uncertainty and shame about the traditions we’ve established.
Am I right to say that for the most part it has become just another day off? That it’s lost its “new car smell”?
Yes, yes, we cook the turkey and fix all the trimmings (smells better than a new car!), but even those have lost their symbolic meaning to us. Now it’s just “tradition.” That’s not to say some of us try to be more intentional with the day, perhaps genuinely offering a prayer of gratitude for all that we have. But there’s much to be grateful for beyond our own table.
I suggest that this year, as you think about family and friends who will gather around your table (assuming you’re going to tell your governor to sod off with their Stasi-like guest quotas) that you strive to make the moment meaningful. Help your group understand the history of the day and the meaning behind it, restoring it to its rightful place in our national traditions.
This will take a little bit of work on your part, but here’s a couple of suggestions to help.
ONE | READ AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST THANKSGIVING FEAST IN 1621
William Bradford, Governor of “Plimoth plantation”
They begane now to gather in ye small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health & strength, and had all things in good plenty; For as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no want. And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. Besids, they had about a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indean corn to yt proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, but true reports.
Edward Winslow, member of the Plymouth settlement
“Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week.
“At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, and many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”
You can find both quotes above and some historical background in this PDF.
TWO | READ THE PROCLAMATION FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST NATIONAL DAY OF THANKSGIVING.
By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.
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.”
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go: Washington
You could also read Abraham Lincoln’s national proclamation in the midst of the Civil War, which you can find here.
THREE | READ A PSALM OF THANKSGIVING
You’ll notice that the men above were not shy about acknowledging God and His provision for the community. Neither should we. The one that I will use today is Psalm 111.
Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Finally, if you’ve chosen to read one or two of these, I suggest you pray and thank God for His provisions. And then, during the meal, have your crew each give an example of something they are personally thankful for.
Whatever you do, tie this day to our national history and cultivate a spirit of gratitude to help reestablish the celebration as a humble affirmation of God’s grace and goodness to this country.
Happy Thanksgiving!