Personally, I was not aware that Thanksgiving originated with our first President. He chose to establish the holiday to celebrate the relatively peaceful way the nation’s government was established, geared to the good of all free citizens. As time has progressed, more and more people have been given the right to citizenship and the right to vote. Although ours was and is a very flawed government, it is what we have and what we live under and it has allowed many people freedom, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness. I appreciate the underlying sentiment of Washington’s proclamation.
One of the most healing sentiments a living being can have is a feeling of gratitude. Gratitude helps build peace within a person and also helps create positive outcomes for the future. You could say that feelings of Gratitude pave the way for Blessings in the future, as November’s holiday spirit leads to December’s spirit of various celebrations: the birth of a Christmas savior who God sent to the world out of love, the miracle of long-burning Chanukah candles to allow the re-dedication of the second temple in Jerusalem, the unification of African and American countries and residents in Kwanzaa’s affirmation of strengths, virtues and survival, the celebration at Winter Solstice of the turning point from the most intense darkness into gradually increasing light. There are even more December celebrations of blessings.
Below, I have included two links, one of which addresses the harmonization of Religion/Spirituality with Science/Empiricism. The second link includes Washington’s entire Thanksgiving declaration. Understand that our country’s government was established by privileged white European men with varying views. Some did not believe in God, but instead the in the enlightenment of human beings, some may not have approved of slavery, some may have had compassion for the Native peoples living here, and some may have had respect for Women and believed in their full participation in government. Each written or spoken word cannot convey the full underlying potentialities and truths. I hope you click on the links. You may have to cut and paste them to your browser. Enjoy. **Only one link apparently works, so you can find the words of Washington’s Thanksgiving proclamation if you want, on YouTube.**
The Forgotten Line in Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation # …
This blog’s free offer: please accept my wishes for a happy Thanksgiving season, leading into a season of blessings and miracles. Let us hope that this coming year will witness the start of increased understanding and cooperation within and between peoples and nations, as well as within each person.
Dr. Elaine Wagner Holistic Health 