Praise and Perseverance

In Colossians 3, we see the teachings of Scripture, showing us ways through which we can show our appreciation to God:
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

For Thanksgiving Day, Colossians 2 shows us to Whom we should show gratitude:
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 


In this season of Thanksgiving, we can allow our zeal for God and love and appreciation for Him consume us.  Here are the words of Hebrews 12:
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire."  We have a powerful reminder in Psalm 105 about giving thanks God:Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced...

Thanksgiving Day is upon us, and while we think about feasts, turkeys, Pilgrims, Native Americans, and preparing for shopping, I think there are a few points to ponder regarding the establishment of a Thanksgiving holiday.    An actual national day of Thanksgiving can actually be traced to 1863, with a proclamation by President Lincoln.   But, there was one woman whose diligence is actually said to have influenced the President to make that declaration - her name is Sarah Josepha Hale.

There is a nice summary I found in the LA Times...it says that:

by 1850, the country was very busy growing, with fifteen new states being added to the union between 1800 and 1850.  Over 200 years had passed since 1621, and the famous feast shared by the early pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe...Thanksgiving festivities were fading fast from the American scene.

Americans ignoring Thanksgiving really bugged Sarah Josepha Hale, and she was stubborn enough and determined enough to make a difference.

When something bothered Sarah Hale, she used the power of her pen. Sarah was the editor of a prominent women's magazine and she used this platform to express her opinions about why it was so important to keep the tradition of Thanksgiving alive in the American family. "If every state would join in Union Thanksgiving on the 24th of this month, would it not be a renewed pledge of love and loyalty to the Constitution of the United States?"

For thirty-eight years she used the magazine and thousands of hand-written letters, pleading to five consecutive presidents to encourage Americans to observe Thanksgiving and have it declared as a national holiday.   Lincoln proclaimed in 1863 that the last Thursday of November would be a national holiday, Thanksgiving.  The Times says:

The timing was critical. America was divided; the Civil War was in full force, and President Lincoln needed something like Thanksgiving to help put the United States back together again.

It seems Sarah never put her pen down. In addition to her campaign for Thanksgiving, Sarah wrote articles and letters advocating higher education for women. She wrote about manners, fashion, and health. She wrote stories for women, for men, and for children. Sarah also loved writing poetry. In 1830, she wrote one of our favorite childhood poems, "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

So, here we have an instance of perseverance for a cause.   Sarah Hale didn't let up - for 38 years - and her persistence paid off.   And, can't that be an encouragement for us to be diligent in speaking up for what we believe in?

We can also be reminded to release the power of thanksgiving - Sarah believed so strongly in the concept that she was willing to devote countless hours to have a national holiday declared.  She recognized the power of thanksgiving in our nation.   And, we as believers, more than a mere observance, can help point people to God by verbalizing our appreciation to Him for our blessings, and perhaps even to tangibly demonstrate it by loving others, so that they may give praise to God.