A Heritage of Thanksgiving

From our nation’s earliest days, Thanksgiving has been more than a holiday—it has been a holy invitation. A call for each of us to pause, reflect, and acknowledge that every blessing we enjoy—our freedom, our families, our daily bread—flows from the gracious hand of our Almighty God.

Thanksgiving in America’s Foundations

Gratitude has always been woven into the fabric of America’s story.

When George Washington took office as our first president, he issued the nation’s very first presidential proclamation—not for war, not for commerce, but for thanksgiving and prayer. In that 1789 declaration, Washington urged the people to unite in giving thanks:

“… that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country …”

In those simple yet powerful words, President Washington recognized that the birth of a nation—and the preservation of its liberty—was possible only through God’s providence.

Gratitude in Times of Trial

Decades later, when America was town apart by civil war, President Abraham Lincoln also turned the nation’s eyes heavenward. His 1863 proclamation—issued in the midst of unimaginable suffering—called the American people to give thanks and to seek the healing hand of God:

“I do therefore invite my fellow citizens … 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 … to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and Union.”

Separated by nearly a century, Washington and Lincoln shared a common revelation: true thanksgiving is not dependent on peace or prosperity—it is born in the recognition that God alone sustains us. Whether in abundance or adversity, gratitude turns our hearts toward the One who holds our future.

Thanksgiving: The Posture of Prayer

Thanksgiving is not merely a once-a-year observance—it’s a posture of the heart. It’s how we approach God in prayer and how we remain anchored in faith.

The apostle Paul reminded the church in Philippi:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, NASB).

When gratitude fills our prayers, peace fills our hearts. Thanksgiving reminds us that every answered prayer, every breath of hope, every act of mercy is a testimony of God’s unfailing goodness.

A Call to Remember

I pray that this Thanksgiving you are surrounded by loved ones and laughter. May this Thanksgiving be more than a meal or a moment—may it be a renewal of our dependence on the Lord who has guided us, protected us, and blessed us from generation to generation.

From my family to yours, may your heart be full, your home be peaceful, and your spirit overflow with gratitude.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

God bless you,

David Cerullo

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