The Joy of Thankfulness

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~G.K. Chesterton

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. I’ve heard many say it is their favorite holiday – a day when we pause to gather with families and friends and remember and think about our blessings. Some say it is a uniquely American holiday although other countries have days of thanksgiving as well. The roots of our Thanksgiving Day go back to the Pilgrims who, after several desperate years, celebrated a good summer harvest and the chance of peace with the local native tribes with a feast in the fall of 1621.

Then at the beginning of American as a nation, George Washington made a Proclamation of thanksgiving for the young nation.

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. ~(Opening paragraph of the Thanksgiving Proclamation given by George Washington on October 3, 1789)

While Thanksgiving was celebrated through the years in different locations and states, it wasn’t until 1863 that Abraham Lincoln permanently established the holiday at the national level.

That’s a little history of the reason we celebrate Thanksgiving as a nation, but we can all celebrate thankfulness throughout the year. I once read an account of a woman who decided to write a note of thanks to someone in her life every week for a whole year. It is a good thing to think of the reasons we have to be thankful and to teach our children the same. The note at the top was sent to our church after helped them with a contribution to their school. While we weren’t expecting a thank you note at all, their sweet message made all of us at church smile and feel even better about the gift we had given them.

Then I received the card below last week. Out of the blue, Luann, a reader and supporter of Christian writers, sent me this. Inside the card she wrote that she was thankful for my writing and how my stories rooted in faith were encouraging to others. And of course, I was the one who ended up encouraged.

Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books – especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day.  ~ John Wooden

So, be assured that I am thankful for all of you who read my books or my words here. I am so glad we can become friends through words and stories.

Give thanks for unknown blessing already on their way. ~Native American Proverb

Have you ever gotten a thank you note that was especially sweet or perhaps written such a note?

And the winner is:

Lucy R. is the winner of my Hidden Springs mystery books. I had more entries than usual this time, and I thank you all for your comments. I always wish I could give all of you books and I will have more giveaways soon. I’ll be sending out a newsletter before Christmas with a neat giveaway. So watch for that.

I hope those of you who haven’t read my mysteries may still give them a read even though you didn’t win copies. You can find them online.