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President Woodrow Wilson, wrote, “If a nation does not remember
what it was yesterday . . . (then) we are trying to do a futile thing if
we do not know where we came from or what we have been.”
This year, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, our nation is in turmoil. Why?
Is it because we’ve forgotten that the divine Hand of Providence
molded our country? Thomas Jefferson, writing in his day, asked,
“Can the liberties of a nation be secure, when we have removed the
conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?” I read
Jefferson’s warning and shudder, because our country appears
determined to erase all references to God within our borders––to our
peril.
President Wilson’s admonition that we not forget where we came from,
led me to research Presidential Proclamations of the past. I was blessed
by what I found: almost all of our presidents have expressed an abiding
faith in Almighty God. Excerpts from some of their writings might
be meaningful to us at this special time of year.
NOVEMBER, 1792: President George Washington
Whereas: It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the
providence of Almighty God . . . to be grateful for His benefits, and
humbly implore His protection and favor; we recommend to the people of
the United States a day of thanksgiving and prayer . . . rendering unto
Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of
the people of our country.”
THANKSGIVING
DAY 1863: President Abraham Lincoln:
“. . . In the midst of a civil war, peace has been preserved with all
nations, order has been maintained, and harmony has prevailed
everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict . . . I do
therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the (world), to
observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and
praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
THANKSGIVING 1917: President Woodrow Wilson:
“It has long been the honored custom of our people to turn in praise
and thanksgiving to Almighty God for His many blessings and mercies to
us as a nation. That custom we can follow now even in the midst of the
tragedy of a world shaken by war... because we can see the great
blessings God has bestowed upon us, blessings that are better than mere
peace of mind and prosperity of enterprise.”
THANKSGIVING DAY, 1943 President Franklin Roosevelt:
“God’s help to us has been great in our march towards worldwide
liberty. Our gallant men have won victories, and have laid the
foundation for freedom of life in a world which will be free. Our
farmers, Victory gardeners, and crop volunteers have gathered and stored
a heavy harvest in the barns and bins and cellars. . . .”
NOVEMBER, 1925: President Calvin Coolidge:
“The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the
teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if
faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our
country.”
THANKSGIVING DAY, 1953: President Dwight D. Eisenhower :
“As a Nation much blessed, we feel impelled at harvest time to follow
the tradition handed down by our Pilgrim fathers to render thanks to
Almighty God for His bounties. It is fitting that we incline our
thoughts to His mercies and offer to Him our special prayers of
gratitude. . . .”
THANKSGIVING DAY, 1967: President Lyndon B. Johnson:
“. . .Thanking God for His goodness, we thank Him as well for the
promise and achievement of America. Our reasons for gratitude are almost
without number.... Much as we are grateful for these material and
spiritual blessings, we are conscious, in this year, of special sorrows
because we are engaged in a painful conflict in Asia. We pray that
(our soldiers’) sacrifice will be redeemed in an honorable peace. . .
. ”
Belief in the Bible
has never threatened our country––Instead, our nation was built upon
principles from the Word of God. Yet we seem to forget that, to our
peril. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “I tremble for my country when I
reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
Is there hope for our country? I believe so, because the sovereign
ruler of the universe is eager and ready to extend His mercy if we turn
our hearts to Him. II Chronicles 7:14 tells us how to do it.: “If
my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, and
seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from
Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” It is our
hope and promise.
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