OUR THANKSGIVING by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 3, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 56.

OUR THANKSGIVING.

By Editor

THE President of the United States authoritatively proclaimed and appointed November 29 "as a day of thanksgiving and prayer, to be kept and observed by all the people in the land." But how many thought of the proclamation after they once read it? and how many were thankful or prayerful because of it? Men—good, loyal citizens—gorged themselves on roast turkey, pumpkin pies, plum pudding, and all the et ceteras of "Thanksgiving" day as erst before, but how much more thankful were they that day than the day before? and how much less thankful were many the next day, while "enjoying" the "blessings" of indigestion! But many feasted and fattened, many more fasted and famished—the one class selfishly thankful, the other grudgingly envious. But who will say that God did not look with more favor upon the latter than the former?

Yet is there cause to be thankful for bounteous temporal blessings, for abundant spiritual blessings, for the riches of God's grace in Jesus Christ. And many of all classes doubtless were truly thankful on November 29, not because of the legal appointment of the day, but for God's goodness. But such are always thankful. True gratitude is never manifest but for a day. The true child of God, the genuine Christian, is thankful all the time. The Lord says (not the civil magistrate): "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."