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By J. Edward Howell Jr.
Your Turn

Yes, it is once again time to think about thanksgiving. What is it all about? To some it is just a date in time when you get a day off of work. To some it means joining the holiday crowd to the Black Friday sales on the day after thanksgiving. Many others celebrate it by going to grandma’s house for a sumptuous meal, baked turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce. Thanksgiving is meaningful to all people here in the United States of America for many and varied reasons. If you will permit me, let me help you remember what the real and true meaning of Thanksgiving really is. To the Pilgrims, who celebrated the first Thanksgiving, as we have come to know it. The Pilgrims, in grateful appreciation for the new religious freedoms that they found in the new world, declared a time to give thanks. With the friendly native Americans, they held a feast and celebrated together. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving to be a national holiday. Over time Thanksgiving has taken on different meanings for different people. As I mentioned earlier, for some, it means family gatherings. For others, Black Friday is what they have looked forward to. For some, they go hunting. For many, it is simply a day off from work. Different people view Thanksgiving in different ways. What I am leading up to is the fact that we, as a nation of people, have perverted the true meaning of “thanksgiving” into something else. We have witnessed the disastrous results of this trend. Sadly, as we diminished the importance of having a time of thanksgiving in our hearts, we have also lost that close relationship with our Creator God. Some of the things that we have recently witnessed is the decline in the overall morality of the country. Some of our young people do not seem to cherish the Christian principles and ideals that we older people grew up with. Things that infuriate God are being embraced as normal behavior now. We have seen our national leadership change from being servants of the people to thinking that they are the powerful elite and the people are simply garbage to be controlled and kept in servitude. Thankfully, it is my belief that God has answered the prayers of many and has given us a second chance to revitalize our nation. It is now time for us to respond as the children of God should. In Deuteronomy Chapter 8, verse 10, we read, “When thou hast eaten and are full, then thou shalt bless the good land which He hath given thee.” For the second chance God has given us we should read, 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 57, which says,” But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”. It is my prayer that you will join with me and millions of others as we give thanks for everything! 1st Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 18,” In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Let us observe each and every day as one of thanksgiving.

J. EDWARD HOWELL JR. is a native of Southampton County. He can be reached via email at jimmy9298@charter.net.