Guest Thanksgiving post by John L. Kachelman, Jr.
A brief historical synopsis of Thanksgiving Day can be found in a general internet search. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists from England were joined with members of the Wampanoag people and shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged as the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. Contrary to the evil revisionists, it was not celebrating oppressive events where one group took advantage and enslaved another group.
Early Colonial history records that days of “thanksgiving” to the Lord God Almighty were celebrated by individual colonies and states. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.
Today the Thanksgiving Holiday’s original intent is scorned. Respect and reliance upon the Lord God Almighty has fallen to the lowest levels in our nation’s brief existence. Today, God is erased and the holiday is used to denigrate the storied religious history of “Thanksgiving.” Today, any vestige of adoration for the Almighty’s providential provisions is banned. Instead of the devotion of the Plymouth colonists there is written into the narrative the nauseous, blasphemous revisionist history of oppression and bloodshed of the “white settlers” whose racism was cloaked in following God.
America’s greatness results from many factors. Here is a few that immediately come to my mind. You can add to this list.
This Thanksgiving, Celebrate America’s greatness because…
God “shed His grace upon thee”!
“If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be one nation gone under” (Ronald Reagan). President Reagan was not ashamed to emphasize the importance of faith and the role of religion in the nation he loved. Reagan knew that if a nation forgets its God-fearing foundation, it loses its identity, values, civility and even its existence. “One nation under God” implies that a strong spiritual foundation is necessary for a nation’s prosperity and continuity. The citizens of America should never be embarrassed or ashamed because God had shed His grace upon our nation!
Our nation’s Founders utilized the Holy Scriptures as the foundation for national laws that commanded culture and regulated morality of the governed and the governing. There was an unashamed announcement of our nation’s dependence upon the providence and provisions of the Lord God Almighty! The laws and moral expectations, communicated by God in the Holy Scriptures, were taught verbally and seen visibly in the school rooms.
A nation “under God” never embraces the biblical “abominations” today that in times past were discussed in whispered tones. The greatness of America’s civic culture wis rooted in a respect for the Bible’s precepts and principles.
A nation “under God” will elect representatives who are not intimidated to silence their belief in and reliance upon the Almighty God.
A nation “under God” will have a constant reminder of our dependence upon the Lord God Almighty. Respect for the Almighty’s provision will be invoked in political assemblies, sporting events, and civic gatherings. Blasphemous is the notion that “a moment of silence” is for each to pray to his own god!
This foundation “under God” is so respected that even the mundane activities (such as eating a meal or tucking a child into bed at night) will not proceed until the Almighty God was thanked for His provisions and pleas were made for His care.
A nation without God is a God-less nation!
It recognizes individualism! Our great nation was founded upon the fact that the individual is capable of making personal choices. This is contrary to other nations denying individualism and forcing citizens to comply with government’s dictates. Individualism navigated our economy to greatness. Each citizen is responsible for his choices. The “blame-game” excusing uncivil and ungodly behavior is absurd. All are responsible for their personal choice in either following the governing Law mandated by the U.S. Constitution or choosing to serve Self by disrespecting others. And this leads to the next point…
It became a “melting pot” forging an amazing national pride. Every citizen swelled with pride because all melded into ONE great nation! On the national level we are “The UNITED States of America.” We are united in a resolve to further the nationalism that brought our country to worldwide preeminence. This united resolve does not erase the individual’s heritage. Such is still celebrated but is NOT forced onto society. All are willing and eager and proud to be “Americans”!
It provided exceptionalism. The society, culture and spirit of the citizens combined in an energetic national pride and respect to never-before-seen heights of world influence.
Its schools educated pupils. The foundations of absolute truths in science, history, and basic morality were taught by qualified educators. Schools expected good citizenship from students. The national greatness was seen as the daily homeroom periods in public schools pledged allegiance to the nation’s flag, recited the Lord’s Prayer, and read a portion of Scripture. It was common to see the Ten Commandments posted in classrooms as a reminder of the morality expected in the local schools and in the nation. The nation’s greatness is memorialized with statutes, plaques, parks, and other items that served as reminders of America’s past and challenges the citizens to learn from the past and make the future stronger.
Its civility is unique. The nation’s governing was designed to ignore class distinctions where the Elite live off the common citizens—ALL are equal in ALL aspects of citizenship. Evil has historically challenged this point and is too prevalent today.
America’s greatness rejoices in feats of patriotism. Citizens applaud acts of heroism that support and strengthen the governing Constitution of the United States of America. Consequently, the citizen is “proud” to be an American! The “heroes” are those who sacrifice for the national pride and not those headlined in an ungodly anarchy.
It continues to progress, but only under the Constitutional governing! This requires correcting the injustices of pompous arrogance by those who see themselves elite and aloof from the common citizen. The Constitutional governing secures, for every citizen, the basic rights endowed by the Creator upon each citizen!
Be Thankful for America’s Greatness
Those who came to America…
…came searching for the freedom FOR religious belief and practice as directed by the Holy Scriptures;
…came searching for the freedom FROM the governing Elite who viewed them as chattel existing only to feed the Elite’s greed;
…came searching for the environment where individualism excels into exceptionalism!
And they succeeded!
But evil continues to suppress the biblical foundation of our great nation. The political oppression of the individual is contrived to destroy America’s greatness. We are threatened with arrogant mandates denying citizens life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The will of the electorate is hijacked by the backroom dealing politicians refusing to yield to a government of the People by the People and for the People.
It is tragic to admit the reality that those elected are documented in today’s historical record as ruling contrary to the United States Constitution. Instead of “we the people” governing our nation, we have politicians governing contrary to their constituency’s desires. And the politicians who disagree remain silent and become just as responsible as the vocals for downgrading America’s greatness.
Hence, the November 2024 election was an overwhelming national mandate to the political Elite and Bureaucrats from the citizens to “Make America Great Again”!
America! On this Thanksgiving Holiday, let us celebrate our nation’s greatness with thanksgiving to the Almighty God. That celebration must emphasize our status as “one nation under God.” Only as we press for a returning to the historic foundation, upon which our “Thanksgiving Day” was based, will there be blessings!
As a nation we must thankfully celebrate the greatness of our nation BECAUSE we recognize and submit to the providence of the Lord God Almighty of Scripture. When we recognize the Divine Providence, we will bow a knee and be thankful in heart to His provisions.
Failure to honor the Almighty or a refusal to turn from erasing God in culture, invites dire calamities and inevitable erasure as a nation. Jeremiah 18:8, “if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I planned to bring on it.”
