By Rich Amick
Thanksgiving Day is a deeply historical and spiritual American holiday.
What many Americans consider the first Thanksgiving occurred in 1621, when the Pilgrims celebrated their first successful harvest in the New World. It was in 1863, during the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving. He urged Americans to acknowledge God’s provision despite the country’s division and suffering. His proclamation emphasized that gratitude is not reserved for peaceful times but is an anchor in troubled days.
As believers in Jesus Christ, the attitude of thanksgiving is a way of life. Scripture says, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything” (Ephesians 5:20), and "overflowing with thanksfulness" (Colossians 2:7). These phrases—always, in all circumstances, overflowing—describe a lifestyle, not a once-a-year act. Gratitude shapes the Christian attitude, lifting our eyes from hardships to God’s steadfast goodness.
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