Thanksgiving Thoughts

Some time back, a Brazilian friend commented that “Thanksgiving” was not a Brazilian holiday, “Because Brazilians do not have anything to be thankful for like the Americans.” He did not know that on August 17, 1949, Law number 781 was passed making the last Thursday of November an official Brazilian “Dia de Ação de Graças”, or Thanksgiving. In 1966 that law was amended to change the Brazilian Thanksgiving to the forth Thursday of November.

Brazil does not celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday, although the cities of Rio de Janeiro, and Cabos, in Pernambuco, declared “Thanksgiving” municipal events in 2000 and 2005 respectively. But, just because one does not celebrate, does not mean that we have nothing to be thankful for.

There are many myths and legends concerning the origins of modern Thanksgiving. Allow me to share a few thoughts, and quotes, that may help clear our minds about the true meaning. I trust we can learn that a true “Thanksgiving” does not come from the abundance, but rather from the realization that “all things” whether big or small, deserve our gratitude, and that that gratitude must be directed to a person, more specifically, the creator of heaven and earth. Cornelious Plantinga, Jr wrote, “It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular.”

First, we must remember that almost all civilizations celebrate a harvest time. Depending on the location of the country, harvest celebrations take place in just about every month of the year all somewhere all over the world. Almost all peoples seem thankful for the earth bringing forth its substance. Thanksgiving in America is tied to that same thought, as well.

Depending on your personal beliefs, you may feel that Thanksgiving is a time for personal gratification. The truest humanistic belief says I worked hard to get what I have. I did it my way, and now I will revel in my glory, albeit short-lived because death eventually comes to all.

I, personally, believe that Thanksgiving takes me to a place where I realize that all I have, including the health and strength to work, comes from a higher power. That power is the sustaining factor for all things. That power is God!

The ancient Hebrew people were the first true “Thanksgiving” revelers when they worshipped God with a Feast of Harvest, a Feast of Tabernacles, and a Feast of Weeks. They were grateful not just for the stuff, but realized there was a God who provided it for them. They celebrated the first true Thanksgiving.

The first European settlers to the new land, America, in 1619, knew what true thanksgiving was, even though they had just lost over half of their loved ones during the long hard three month journey. When they arrived in what is now called Virginia, those 38 English settlers set aside a day of Thanksgiving and prayer. That thanksgiving had nothing to do with a harvest, however. It would be another year before the next settlers would reach Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, and two years before what would eventually become known as the “First Thanksgiving Feast,” related to a harvest.

It certainly was not the lack of suffering, nor the “over” abundance of stuff that caused those first settlers to be thankful. It was not exemption from hardships, or death that caused them to want to celebrate a day of Thanksgiving. On the contrary, those first “Thanksgiving days” were full of reasons not to thank the creator.

H.U. Westermayer wrote, “ The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than those who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.” Over one-half of the first settlers died within the first year.

George Washington’s 1789 proclamation of a day for “public thanksgiving and prayer” came at a time of tremendous turmoil in American history. He realized the true meaning of thanksgiving when he wrote, “ It is the duty of ALL NATIONS (emphasis mine) 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.”

Seventy-four years later, in 1863, as America lay divided, suffering, and impoverished by a civil war, Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of Thanksgiving to be observed the last Thursday the month of November. He wrote, “It has seemed to me fit and proper that they [gifts form God] should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people.” Lincoln also wrote, “We often forget the Source from which the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies come… No human wisdom hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God.”



Some believe that America has a Thanksgiving because it is the richest land on earth. While the richest part may be true, financially speaking, the real meaning of Thanksgiving goes much deeper than having money and things. After all, Brazil now produces more grains, more aluminum and copper, and exports more frozen chicken and meat than any other country. Brazil, now, has the tenth largest economy in the world. Would it not seem proper, then, that Brazil, too, should celebrate Thanksgiving Day?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “You say, ‘If I had more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”

The founders of the United States of America were visibly human in their errors. Imperfect men. But, they were just as visible in their recognition of the Most High God. May we learn to be as bold, and verbal, in giving thanks to our Great God. May we remember this THANKSGIVING DAY to give tribute, praise, and honor to Him who is the maker, and sustainer of all things.

Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.”



Thomas Ray Turley Nov 23. 2008
São José dos Camps, SP, Brasil



More THANKSGIVING DAY quotes:

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John F. Kennedy

“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” Harry A. Ironside

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” Cicero

“Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men, but be careful that you do not take the day and leave out the gratitude.” E.P. Powell

“ It is literally true, as the thankless say, that they have nothing to be thankful for. He who sits by the fire, thankless for the fire, is just as if he had no fire. Nothing is possessed save in appreciation, of which thankfulness is the indispensable ingredient. But a thankful heart hath a continual feast.” W.J. Cameron

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” W.T. Purkiser

“If we have enjoyed the hospitality if the Host of this universe, Who daily spreads a table in my sight, surely I cannot do less than acknowledge my dependence.” G.A. Johnston Ross

“Happiness is the realization of God in the heart. Happiness is the result of praise and thanksgiving, of faith, of acceptance; a quiet tranquil realization of the love of God.” White Eagle