Thanksgiving

Did you know there were 150 men at the first Thanksgiving and only five women to prepare the 3-day feast? Did you know that turkey wasn't even served at the first Thanksgiving, and that the pilgrims didn't use forks because they weren't invented yet? Much has been said and speculated about the origins and leading events of Thanksgiving, but much has been lost regarding the real reason for and focus of this celebrated American holiday. "Thanksgiving: The Act of Giving Thanks" is more than a historical account of the Mayflower Pilgrims coming to the New World. Despite our country's many divisions, America has one foundation rooted in divine providence, and Americans share a common history borne out of hardship and courage in the journey to freedom. In the recognition and appreciation of God's sovereign provision, protective care and guidance, Thanksgiving Day was established by our founders as a special American public holiday for the purpose of giving thanks to God. The Act of Giving Thanks, put into tangible daily practice, can benefit our relationships with God and others, transform our entire outlook on life, and make us more fully alive!