Celebrating Thanksgiving makes you happy

At least happier than that turkey you may or may not have to celebrate Thanksgiving with. Every American should consider the reality that people left their country to seek out a land to have freedom to worship God as their LORD. That land is our land, the United States.

The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by those Pilgrims in 1621 with the help of the people who God had already given this land to that we now call America. Some refer to them as Native Americans or Indians. I see them simply as natives.

Thanksgiving Day has been a vital part of our national life of this great country every since President Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday in 1863. Thanksgiving is a profoundly Christian holiday in that it re-focuses our attention on God as the true source of all our blessings, which is translated to mean “happy.”

Let us not forget to remember that also according to Christopher Columbus’ personal diary, he wrote that God would show him a land where the people would have freedom to worship God as their LORD. Having no navigational skills, he responded to God’s calling. God gave him favor with the Queen of Spain and he was given three ships to sail the seas.

In 1492 more than 200 years earlier than the arrival of the Pilgrims, Columbus landed in the Caribbean. He further stated in his personal dairy that when he landed the people were tall, thin and black skinned.  Thinking he was in India, he called the indigenous population Indians and it stuck. They along with the African that sailed with him assisted he and his shipmates to survive by allowing these ‘natives’ to teach them to hunt turkeys and show them which natural foods were safe to eat.  No doubt they were grateful.

Interesting enough St. Petersburg has been incorporated twice as a municipality. Several main streets and her history have been re-written many times for some obscure reason. God has chosen America to be blessed and a lighthouse to the world. God chose to make His face to shine upon this city. God’s eyes are beholding this city in a very special way and that should make you happy. Therefore, I see this city as the SONshine city. This alone should make you very happy in celebrating Thanksgiving.

We gather with our families and offer our gratitude and thanksgiving to God, not man.  Whether we have family or friends or not, the real purpose is for us to demonstrate our gratitude and thanksgiving to God. It is something that all of us ought to do. It’s not only just a day of thanksgiving; the Bible also teaches us that thanksgiving is something that ought to be an everyday attitude within our heart. We’re to have an attitude of gratitude by giving thanks in all things, as this is the will of God. [Thessalonians 5:18]

Maybe you have had a difficult week. Things may have not real well with you. Maybe you have had some reversals and some problems and some hardships this week. Regardless, keep in mind that an attitude of gratitude makes for a thankful heart. A thankful heart is a happy heart. Emotionally and psychologically it’s one of the greatest things you can become. That is to be a thankful and grateful person.

Especially in our SONshine city let’s celebrate Thanksgiving everyday and talk about this matter of being forever thankful unto our great God. Share with everyone you meet reasons why you can be thankful to God, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also you are called in one body and be ye thankful.” [Colossians 3:15]

Before Thanksgiving was a holiday, Thanksgiving was given to us by God as a responsibility, as a duty, an exercise in obedience. God’s Word says, “be ye thankful, ‘’Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.’’ This is medicine to our soul without the big bird on your table.