Two Texas Thanksgivings giving God Thanks and Praise

Two Texas Thanksgivings giving God thanks and praise on calendar: The Spanish colonization and the New England Pilgrim landing

We are all glad when the battle is over.  Then we give thanks.  What if we gave thanks and praise during the struggle. Yes, we can learn to give thanks and praise always, have an attitude of gratitude and count our blessings.  For my family and faith (Fr. Larry) I give thanks and praise; for Brian my husband; for Lisa and Frank (and Conrad) Jeremy & Kim HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEREMY and Valerie; for Tina; for Wendi and Sean (and Tommy) Lindsay and Zachary; for Michael and Vanessa; for Barry and Katie and Baby A; for Kathleen and the consecrated; for Amber and Joshua!

 Amid a raging Civil War, Lincoln declares a day of Thanks. Until 1863, the Thanksgiving holiday wandered around the calendar and sometimes disappeared altogether. As president, George Washington declared a national day of Thanksgiving in 1789, President Thomas Jefferson scoffed at the idea. Seventy-four years later, President Abraham Lincoln revived the holiday with a proclamation establishing the last Thursday in November, 1863, as Thanksgiving Day. 
Later, FDR signed the federal law making the fourth Thursday in November the nation's official Thanksgiving day.  By 1939 all other states proclaimed the fourth Thursday as Thanksgiving.  However, the Texas Legislature didn't change our state law until 1956, making Texas the last state to do so.  

Texas history brings to mind another, earlier struggle followed by a thanksgiving. On January 26, 1598, a Spanish expedition under Juan de Onate of 500 people, including soldiers, colonists, wives and children and 7,000 head of livestock set out from Santa Barbara in southern Chihuahua Mexico with the aim of founding a new kingdom. Three months later, after a long, dangerous trek forging a new trail northward, the now famous El Camino Real, it crossed the Rio Grande and set up camp south of present day El Paso, Texas. Then on April 30, 1598, after recuperating for ten days, Onate ordered a day of thanksgiving for the survival of the expedition.  Included in the event was a feast supplied with game by the Spaniards and with fish by the natives of the region. A Mass was said by the Franciscan missionaries traveling with the expedition. And finally, Onate read La Tome - the Taking  - declaring the  land drained by the Great River to be the possession of King Philip II of Spain - the beginning of Spanish colonization in the American Southwest. 

The American history books mention the New England Protestant Puritan sect of 102 people landed on Plymouth Rock and established a Calvinist theocracy after struggling an ocean voyage, leaving family and friends venturing out into the unknown and cross a vast ocean  In 1621, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was formed and began an annual special day of thanksgiving prayer observances in 1660.

While all things are passing, and may be better in years to come

We work in the short term, and we do what we can with love.

Love of God and love of neighbor and gratitude to boot

Makes our struggles worthwhile and moves our attitude above

To think of the long term and to trust in God providence alone. 

 

When someone expresses thankfulness, it not only impacts the receiver, but it also has benefits for the one giving thanks. Recognizing the blessings in your life and acting upon them regularly increases your awareness and appreciation. Sharing your gratitude improves your quality of life because it can only result in positive emotions. Learning to appreciate what you have also makes life more valuable and meaningful.

Being Grateful to Those Who Light the Flame

Albert Schweitzer, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient, once said, “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”

Everyone hits rough spots – and some people seem to survive avalanches – but often, other people are sent our way to rekindle our faith and keep us from despair. Who are the people in your life who deserve gratitude for supporting you when you needed it most?

Being Thankful For a New Opportunity

Each day we’re given a new chance to make a difference in the world. Until we are gone, there is always hope of finding happiness. Meister Eckhart, a German theologian from the 13^th century, wrote: “If the only prayer you said your whole life was ‘thank you’ that would suffice.”