| Show Thanksgiving IN JN N the long ago when the colonists colonists' were called 1 together to return thanks for the blessings they had found in America the material things 11 they had were few indeed All about them f Were hostile Indians The struggle to survive in l such isolation was a challenge to to be faced each day Measured by today's standards they were It ill housed ill-fed ill and ill i Yet their prayers of thanksgiving ascended from froni the uttermost depths of their souls souls souls-fer- fervent fer- fer vent words of gratitude to the living God to Whom they were bound in faith whom they praised and asked to continue His over them To them it was no miracle that the theU U soil had brought forth its fruits according to toI I their labors labors' that the forests had provided them with homes that they had garments sufficient p to their need The gratitude that welled up from their hearts was for something transcending all these things Those and G folk gave thanks for above all else their spiritual blessI blessings blessings bless bless- I ings that gave them the strength of soul and the courage to face life and conquer all hindrances which confronted them which had encouraged them to rid themselves of oppression and to eek seek a haven wherein they might worship acS according according ac ac- ac- ac S cording to the dictates of conscience They gave thanks for the Divine protection that had hovI hovered hovered hov hov- I ered about them They pledged their faith I anew and manfully faced their theix future They sent up tip no prayers to God for riches or possessions posses for creature comforts or honors or distinctions I or for an easier way of life They knew it was wasI I written For in the sweat of thy face thou I eat In their prayers of gratitude is found the true spirit of Thanksgiving day the spirit that moved to of thanksgiving thanksgiving thanks thanks- J Washington pr proclaim a day I giving after freedom had been won for this naS nation nation na na- na- na S tion yet to be established in the western world 4 the spirit prompting Lincoln to call upon the people to give thanks for the preservation of the I I Union the spirit that moved all hearts to express express ex ex- 3 press gratitude to Divine Providence for the I peace that descended upon the world on that a first Thanksgiving day after the armistice enda ending ending end end- a ing the World war In America that peace has been enduring The spirit of peace pervades the land We bear hatred toward no other people Despite the sore afflictions visited upon us by the World a war i it left us without a vengeful spirit We WeI I i covet nothing that belongs to others to enhance p our wealth power pr or dominion Instead we seek b only peace peace pe peace e for ourselves and in the world neighborhood knowing full well that out of its blessedness all blessings spring In a time of I worldwide chaos a time of wars and rumors of I wars of persecution and oppression and intolerance intolerance I ance this people may well put aside m merrymaking merry mrry- rry- rry making and feasting to give thanks and praise for the peace we enjoy in the republic for the desire to remain at peace This is the greatest p spiritual blessing abiding in the hearts of this people If there is bitterness contention and discontent discontent discon discon- j tent in the nation their origin is in the frailty of 4 humankind mans humankind mans man's inhumanity to man be it great or small Our vicissitudes proceed from fromI I all too human perversities and can disappear only as spiritual blessings supplant them with charity charity charity char char- ity tolerance understanding and mutual help help- U As a people we need the courage of the first b colonizers colonizers' the conviction that there are no no in insuperable insuperable in- in 0 obstacles to and progress ss the understanding that this is not an idlers idler's N ft world acceptance of Moses' Moses word that the Creator ordained in the beginning that In the I sweat of thy face thou eat Mortal man must earn his mortal blessings 0 America has abundant cause to rejoice and to give thanks It is fit and proper that this thisbe be a day of feasting and merrymaking As at f. f Christmastide this Thanksgiving day is a time timeS S for the nations nation's voice to be in joy to sing p Glory to God in the highest on earth peace good will to all men |
