The Pilgrims declared a three-day feast, starting on December 13, 1621, to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends. While this was not the first Thanksgiving in America (thanksgiving services were held in Virginia as early as 1607), it was America's first Thanksgiving Festival.  Much of the credit for the adoption of a later ANNUAL national Thanksgiving Day may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey's Lady's Book. For thirty years, she promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day, contacting President after President until President Abraham Lincoln responded in 1863 by setting aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving. Over the next seventy-five years, Presidents followed Lincoln's precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day. Then, in 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.

I propose, however, that as wonderful as the Thanksgiving tradition is, let’s promote Thanksgiving as a regular mindset, not just an annual holiday.

Many Americans today think of Thanksgiving as the one day per year that we are justified to “stuff” as much food as possible into our bodies, lay on the couch to complain we ate too much and watch football.  Some, however, understand it is a day to be “Thankful” and offer up the things they are thankful about to each other…while stuffing their bodies, laying on the coach, etc.  However, if you break the word apart, you will discover that Thanksgiving actually comes from the original English root words, “Thanks” and “Giving”.  Imagine that?!  (That took some serious research!)  So, our thanks should be coupled with the action of giving.  What is it you can do to give to others?  How can you be of value and service?  Answer and act on these questions and you won’t just have a spectacular holiday, you will have an amazing life.  A mindset of “thanks” coupled with the act of “giving” is what life is all about.  Let’s make Thanksgiving an everyday event…minus the stuffing of food and laying on the couch part.  J