Thanksgiving 
 
Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?  Why do we take almost a week off school?  Does your worldview affect why you celebrate Thanksgiving?  All of these questions are important, and how we as a school and you as a family approach Thanksgiving speaks volumes to our children. Today many times we hear Thanksgiving referred to as Turkey Day or football weekend.  In many secular textbooks, the rewriting of our history states that the Pilgrims had Thanksgiving to thank the Indians for their help in farming and producing crops.  While I feel sure they did thank the Native Americans, that was not the stated reason for having Thanksgiving. 
 
From the pilgrims to President George Washington to Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving has been a time to give thanks to God for His provision and for His grace and mercy on our nation.  Giving thanks to those who serve our nation and our towns and cities is important as well, but ultimately it is time for recognizing our trust and dependence on almighty God who “daily loadeth us with benefits.” (Ps. 68:19)  Thanksgiving should be a time where we as Christians help our young people learn that God is the one that deserves our thanks and our praise.  He should be the object of our Thanksgiving, not a sidelight in a prayer at a meal.   
 
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.  
Psalm 100:3-5