by Jonathan A. Ward

Why Thanksgiving? Great food? Costco pumpkin pie? Family and friendship warmth? Football? A sincere occasion of gratitude and thanksgiving? All the above and more? 

President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863 and wrote: “With humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience … we fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation….” Yes, a nation torn by Civil War. And we think we have stiff division today? Not compared to the Rebs and Yanks.

But many moons before the Civil War citizens throughout the globe celebrated a day of giving thanks to their Higher Powers from Mayflower pilgrims to the earliest settlers of Virginia. Other countries and civilizations have observed such a holiday of gratitude, and some still do. Historically, this holiday was celebrated in the autumn and about giving thanks for an abundant harvest.

Of more pertinent focus, what does Thanksgiving mean to us — as individuals, as families, and is there any meaning to Thanksgiving for us as a nation as President Lincoln wished? 

My family celebrated all national holidays. As kids we believed in Santa and even the Tooth Fairy who kindly left pocket change under our pillows in exchange for used teeth. Fond memories! Back to Thanksgiving: I relish the memory that my Mom was an excellent cook – turkey, veggies, rolls, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, pies, etc. — all home-made. My Dad, a local college dean, did the praying and the turkey-carving, and I believe he was sincerely grateful for the Thanksgiving spread and his life in general. Especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas my family dined by candlelight, and when I reflect on those memories I see them through that warm luminescence.

Life is dual — there are no roses without the thorns, but a focus on those good times, great people, the “blessings” can make our lives more fulfilled, and can result in a more grateful heart — a more positive outlook. I preach especially to myself here. In that vein, perhaps this is a good season to reach out to those we’ve had differences with? Was it Lincoln who said that the best way to defeat enemies was to make them friends? 

But whatever one’s beliefs, religion, denomination, Rebel or Yankee, can we at least have a day of unity, a day of gratitude for whatever life’s blender has served us – lemonade or margaritas?  As Lincoln put it, isn’t it time to tone down our differences and shake hands — “heal the nation?” Recall if you’re old like me the patriotic feeling after 9/11, the general neighborliness, the courtesy people were showing even in traffic — as one nation of Americans. Can we for one day come back to that gratitude for all the good in this nation, in our beautiful Lake San Marcos neighborhood, and in our own lives? And beyond that, can we expand that one day to a lifetime of gratitude?