Happy Thanksgiving!
Proclamation of the 1st Thanksgiving by President George Washington, leaving no doubt of this holiday’s original intention, thankfulness to God…
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;
and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; 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 previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.
[Painting of Washington is “The Prayer at Valley Forge” by Arnold Friberg, 1775]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Wishing Everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!
I hope todays brings you lots of good food, fond memories, and lots of laughter and love.
Just for fun, here’s a Thanksgving survey:
-What were your plans for Thanksgiving?
-Do you have any special traditions for the holiday and what are they?
-What is your favorite food served at Thanksgiving?
-What is your fondest memory of a Thanksigiving?
-And last but not least, what are you thankful for?
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, November 26, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The South American country of Uruguay faces what pro-life advocates have identified as a “crucial turning point” with their national elections on Sunday November 29th.
Uruguayan affiliates of Human Life International (HLI) have asked for prayers in the lead-up to the country’s elections, saying that a win for the conservative National Party will block the push from the left and from international population control groups to legalize abortion.
Despite a strong political left in Uruguay, abortion has remained illegal in the country and is punishable by up to 9 months in prison. Those committing abortions face a possible two years in prison.
But the new presidential candidate for the ruling Broad Front party, Jose Mujica, has promised not to veto legislative attempts to legalize abortion.
Some polls have shown that the major parties are neck and neck, but a recent Angus Reid poll found that the socialist Broad Front remains well ahead of all rival parties with 44 percent support. The National Party was second with 35 percent.
National Party candidate Luis A. Lacalle has warned that Mujica, a former leader in the violent Tupamaru guerrilla that attempted to install a Cuban-inspired socialist state in the 1960s, will push the country from a stable democracy toward socialism.
The elections of 2004 brought a strong majority government by the Broad Front, a leftist coalition of socialists, communists and social democrats. The new president, however, Broad Front leader, Tabaré Vázquez, has held fast against efforts to legalize abortion.
In 2009, Vazquez, a Catholic oncologist, vetoed a bill that proposed to legalize abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The Senate had voted 17 to 13 to legalize abortion for the “health” of the mother, a tactic that has created virtual abortion on demand in several other countries.
At the time he vetoed the attempt, Vazquez said, “Our laws cannot ignore the reality of the existence of human life in the gestation period, as scientific evidence clearly shows.
“It’s more appropriate to look for a solution based on solidarity, giving a woman the freedom to make other choices and thereby save both her and the baby.”
But Vázquez is barred by the constitution from seeking a second consecutive term and since 2005, the party has seen new influences shifting the party further to the left.
Human Life International said, “It is a thousand times easier to prevent legal abortion than it is to reverse it once it has taken root.” HLI organized a large rally in the capital, Montevideo, to demonstrate that public opinion remains against legalization of abortion.
The One thing I am most thankful for, is that we were able to have our first thanksgiving, without feeling sad! I was affraid that would start happening… you know I’d be balling about Mom, but the Lord made it so I was eating so much, it didn’t even occour to me, that Mom was even gone. Mom wanted us to be happy, and she’d have injoyed today! I’m thankful, to everyone who prayed for my mother during her illness. RJ
Jill,
I’ve been popping in of late, having recently discovered your site through Rod Dreher’s “Crunchy Con”. I’m thankful for the work you do for life.
Great website Jill. It’s fresh and snappy, upbeat and pointed, very positive and forward-looking.
God Bless
I am thankful to God for family, friends and faith. We always color turkeys and name them and then all of us tell what we are thankful to God for. Off to Grandma’s for turkey, stuffing, wild rice, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberries, lefse, and pumpkin pie.
I am still full.
Yesterday Alison and I cooked all day while Joseph led the little ones in making autumn colored chains out of construction paper to decorate the front yard (we had a sunny 80 degrees and ate on picnic tables in the carport). The little girls also used sidewalk chalk to draw turkeys and write what everyone was thankful for on the garage door and the carport.
The inlaws popped down at dinner time, they’d eaten out earlier but joined us for a drink and celebration and my sister in law brought a huge turkey she’d colored at United Cerebral Palsy to finish off the decorating. Very festive. I enjoyed driving up this morning after dropping Steven at work to see how wonderful everything still looked.
We are thankful for so much this year. Last year Steven was a part of the unemployment statistics… it took him seven months to get the job he has now. He was chosen employee of the month for Nov. 2009, so that is a further blessing. In addition, they are bringing him on as core staff (he was a part of a registry group) and so he will be able to supply benefits for our family through his hospital job.
This means that I will be leaving the county hospital I have worked at for all of these years (emotionally hard, but necessary) which has become another victim of the economy and have been blessed with not one, but TWO high paying part time positions, either of which pays me more part time than I made full time previously. I will be working at the area’s two premiere children’s hospitals, in one in the ER, and the other on the general pediatrics ward. I will still do night shift at one hospital, but will be 3pm to 3 am at the other, which is my favorite shift to work.
Of course, that has meant two weeks of hospital orientations (by the end of the second week, everyone sounded like the parents and teachers from Peanuts, though, BWA BWA BWA BWA!) My poor brain wanted to squeeze out of my head through my ear and throttle me for scheduling the two orientations back to back!!
The children are all healthy, strong and well. Baby Patrick is almost 3 months old and is smiling up a storm. He is getting sooooo big and strong, such a happy baby. He’s working on some teeth, so the drool is pretty much nonstop. As my godmother used to say, “Spit happens when you’re watering your teeth!”
The children made an interesting list of things they were thankful for: God, baby brother, freedom, a room, food, toys, family, friends, sunshine, and from my pre-teen son… “That I’m not a turkey!” (which was retorted by teenage daughter with, “Don’t be so sure about that!”)
Let’s see if this will show up for you guys:
Baby Patrick
My manly man hiding behind a Winnie The Pooh oven mitt!
Elisabeth:
Your baby is beautiful! It looked warm where you were- where do you live?
Sunny Arizona… it was in the 80’s and we ate outside! I love this place.
Elisabeth,
It sounds like you have a wonderful day. Good luck with your new jobs. Your little one is adorable. I was able to meet my newest niece and she is just as precious as her four siblings. What a joy it is to see families with many children. God bless!
Thanks you guys… we think he’s pretty sweet.
And definitely thankful for all my great friends on here!
God bless eveeryone. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. My family celebrated with family at my brother’s and had a great time. We had family prayertime and it was awesome. Lots of folks, food, games, kids, babies, laughs and fellowship. I pray for fellow prolifers and for the hearts of pro-choicers to be transformed. God bless you Jill, thank you for all you do for life.
There is soooo much to be thankful for. God has been good!