America today is more divided and pessimistic about our future than at any time in recent memory. With all of the problems that monopolize the news, it is tempting to believe our country is trapped beneath a giant wet blanket with no way out. But, then, our whole history is a story of overcoming adversity.
In the year that followed the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, our young nation was caught in a downward and seemingly unstoppable spiral of defeat, death, and despair. Yet, as author of Samuel Adams: A Life Ira Stoll has noted about the firebrand revolutionary and cousin of the future president, Adams inspired his fellow delegates with words of encouragement: “Good tidings will soon arrive,” he assured them. “We shall never be abandoned by Heaven if we act worthy of its aid and protection.”
Sure enough, in September, the Americans shocked the world by routing the British at the Battle of Saratoga, and their unexpected victory marked the start of the turning of the tide. Overjoyed with success, the Congress responded at the urging of Adams by declaring Thursday, December 18, as “a day of Thanksgiving to God.” This was our nation’s first Thanksgiving Day, arising from one leader’s faith that America’s future could be saved by rededicating ourselves to our Creator.
Fast-forward 236 years. Our future looks bleak, and our mood is melancholy, so perhaps it is time to remember the real wellspring of our strength. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, the blessings for which we can give thanks are much bigger and more powerful than any problem that confronts us.
We can give thanks for the character of our people, for their hard work and industry that create our jobs and prosperity, and for their friendship, generosity, and love. When trouble strikes, whether it be a disaster like Hurricane Sandy that impacted entire communities, or a crisis that hits one of us personally, our neighbors and fellow citizens respond. The worst of adversity brings out the best in Americans. Miraculously, strangers become friends, and the character of our country shines through as people everywhere step up, volunteer, and give what they can to make bad situations better.
We can give thanks for our men and women in uniform, for our first responders who are always there to protect us, and for our servicemen and women who are the watchmen on the walls of freedom. Their courage inspires us. Their skills astound us. Their sacrifice, as witnessed by so many who have lost their lives and limbs, grieves us. We cannot repay them nor can we replace them. But we can honor them every day, in every way that we can.
We can give thanks for America’s genius and innovative spirit. Through the power of exploring minds, we continue to pioneer new frontiers and possibilities. Today, one person can connect and communicate with the world. Our country is moving toward true energy independence, and we can foresee the day when we will eliminate the scourge of terrifying diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and ALS.
We can all give thanks for being Americans, and for living in a country where, on this Thanksgiving, the spirit of Saratoga is alive and well. For all of our problems, we still live in a land where we the people are free to think and stand for what we believe, become all that we dream and, if we would but summon the wisdom and will, change what we must.
Above all else, we can do what Sam Adams and those first Americans did in 1777 when their great cause seemed all but lost. We can give thanks “with one heart and one voice” to God our Creator, our Defender and the Great Giver of gifts. We can be thankful for receiving the gifts that are truly priceless, and not one of them can we buy because all of them are free — the glory of creation, the knowledge of truth, the spirit of faith, hope, and love.
Happy Thanksgiving!