Cal Thomas: Thankful to whom and for what?
In a thought-provoking commentary, Cal Thomas reflects on the evolving nature of gratitude in American culture, particularly in the context of Thanksgiving. He begins by noting the shift in language around expressions of thanks, with phrases like “no problem” replacing the traditional “you’re welcome.” This change raises questions about the underlying sentiment of gratitude and the implications of viewing acts of kindness as burdensome. Thomas argues that this linguistic evolution mirrors a broader cultural trend, where Thanksgiving has been relegated to a mere prelude to the consumer frenzy of Christmas, losing its unique significance as a day of reflection and appreciation.
Historically, Thanksgiving was rooted in the Pilgrims’ gratitude towards God for their blessings, a sentiment that President Abraham Lincoln echoed in his 1863 proclamation establishing the holiday. Lincoln’s call for a national day of thanksgiving came during the turmoil of the Civil War, emphasizing the importance of recognizing divine providence even amidst hardship. He urged Americans to not only give thanks but also to approach the day with “humble penitence” for the nation’s failings. Thomas laments that such calls for introspection and repentance are rarely heard from modern leaders, suggesting that the contemporary focus on materialism and consumption has overshadowed the spiritual and moral dimensions of gratitude.
As Thanksgiving approaches, Thomas encourages readers to reclaim the holiday’s original intent by incorporating a spirit of humility and reflection into their celebrations. He posits that acknowledging our blessings should be accompanied by a recognition of our shortcomings and a desire for repentance. In a world increasingly focused on consumption, he advocates for a return to the values of gratitude and humility, suggesting that perhaps a “heaping serving of humble pie” should be an essential part of our Thanksgiving menu. This call to reflect on both our blessings and our responsibilities serves as a poignant reminder of the deeper significance of the holiday, urging a reconnection with its spiritual roots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewmefM76XfU
Among my growing list of improper uses of the English language is the response I get when telling a restaurant server or anyone else “thank you.” The usual response has been for as long as I remember, “you’re welcome.” For the young, especially, it has become “no problem.”
Why would thanking someone for a service or kindness performed be considered a problem? What does that even mean?
Thanksgiving, which mythically began when the Pilgrims and early settlers thanked God for His “many blessings,” despite their difficult circumstances, is now a small bump in the road on the way to the annual conspicuous consumption called Christmas. The airlines are thankful because of heavy travel that leads to large profits. Thanksgiving, as well as approaching Christmas, have lost their unique status – at least among secularist marketers – and have now been blended into “the holidays.” That’s a problem.
There once was a time – and I still remember it – when most of the Christmas rush began after Thanksgiving. Now we have Black Friday beginning in some TV ads before Halloween. Thanksgiving has taken a back seat to Christmas commercialism. It is now a one-day stuffing, not just of the turkey, but of ourselves, plus a couple of football games.
While the early settlers and Pilgrims were known for thanking God for His blessings, it wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday. In his
proclamation
declaring the last Thursday in November a day of thanksgiving, Lincoln said this about the blessings Americans had received:
“To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and even soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.”
The proclamation was issued after the Battle of Gettysburg, a bloody conflict in the Civil War, a war which was still not over. If a nation in the midst of such a great internal struggle could find things to be thankful for, what about us? In our rush to consume, do we any longer regard God as the source of our undeserved blessings?
Something even more profound came later in the proclamation. Speaking to his fellow citizens, Lincoln wrote:
“I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience.”
When was the last time you heard a national leader recommend penitence? The scriptures are clear … nothing gets God’s attention quite like repentance. It is then His mercy flows. When he first ran for president in 2016, I asked Donald Trump if he had ever felt the need to ask for forgiveness, or repent. He said “No. Perhaps someday I will.”
God once said for the sake of 10 righteous people He would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Like the people in those ancient cities, we have many sins for which we should repent. I’m not exactly sure how God will respond as His people pray – seeking His forgiveness for our national sins. But I do know that it is an appropriate attitude as we gather, and a long-standing tradition to reintroduce around our table.
Perhaps a heaping serving of humble pie should also be on today’s Thanksgiving menu.
Readers may email Cal Thomas at
tcaeditors@tribpub.com
. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).
