Gratitude Galore: Counting Our Blessings this Thanksgiving
November 23, 2023In the fall of 1621, Pilgrims in Plymouth Colony celebrated the harvest with a feast that is now considered the first Thanksgiving in the United States. Governor William Bradford described the abundance of food and resources, highlighting the plenty they had to be thankful for. This spirit of gratitude has endured through history, with Thanksgiving being officially declared a national holiday in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, in the midst of the Civil War. The purpose of Thanksgiving remains the same – to give thanks for the blessings the nation has received. Despite our challenges and differences, the United States has been truly blessed and we should continue to give thanks for all that we have.