Happy Thanksgiving- A Day Late

I sit at my grandparent's computer in Cheyenne, Wyoming thinking about the full house and full stomachs we had last night. I believe there were 26 people here! Grandma starved us, as always, and there were definately no pies for dessert! :-) Hahahaha...

Yesterday morning my grandpa heard a speech from President Lincoln read on the radio. He had my dad find it online. I found it beautiful, convicting and worthy of sharing.

Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation
Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclomation that follows is taken from the collection of Lincoln's papers in the Library of America series, Vol II, pp. 520-521.

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

~Abraham Lincoln

I must be off, but would like to share 5 things I am extremely grateful for this year:

1- My Savior, Sustainer, Friend and King- the Creator of the Universe.

2- My loving, amazing and goofy family- Dad, Mom, Ben, Timothy, Victoria

and Samuel.

3- My Bible- Ahhhh.... how grateful I am for the men and women who sacrificed their time and lives for the sake of preserving, translating and publishing the Word of God!!!

4- Sunlight- As Ben and I were listening to "The Last Battle" radio drama of C.S. Lewis' last book in the Chronicles of Narnia, a character says that to not have Aslan, as He was known, would be like having a day with no sun. Or drinking water and finiding it dry. Sunlight continually reminds me of God's power and presence. He sustains the sun with HIS power and by HIS authority! Not to mention... the sun is just an average star of uncountable stars in the universe!

5- Grace- Where would I be without the grace of God? Grace that, not only save, but disciplines, corrects and allows me to wake up each morning. Grace that condemns my sins and gives me eternal life in return for my filth. Praise Your name, Lord Jesus!!! Thank you for Your sacrifice on the cross that allows me to know any measure of thanksgiving! Thank You for becoming humanity so that I might taste eternity. Thank You for taking the bread of affliction upon Yourself and becoming the cup of Redmption! Thank You for allowing me to know You in an intimate way! Thank You for Grace!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!