Giving thanks

While the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621, several days of thanks were scheduled periodically in a practice repeated over the course of America’s history.
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving a year, and in 1789, George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States. In it, he called on Americans to express their gratitude for a happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
It was Abraham Lincoln, at the height of the Civil War in 1863, who issued a proclamation scheduling Thanksgiving for the final Thursday in November.
While many households focus on turkey and football, several also focus on the message to be thankful. It’s a message that’s echoed by their religious leaders.
Catholic Diocese of Lafayette Bishop Michael Jarrell’s 2014 Thanksgiving message notes George Washington, in his decree, called “a day of thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God.”
Jarrell said “Thanksgiving Day is not marked by public gatherings. It is, rather, a day of personal and family prayer, of gathering in the home — a day of prayerful gratitude to almighty God, for generosity to those in need of life’s necessities, so that God can use us to bless others. May God bless America; may he bless you and your loved ones on this beautiful day.”
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Bishop Shelton J. Fabre echoed those sentiments in his annual message.
“This is the time of year when we as a nation pause in a special manner to give thanks to almighty God for his abundant blessings given to us throughout the years. I once read or heard somewhere that those who are most fulfilled in life, or those who are happy, are people who are always thankful. I believe this to be true.
“To know ongoing joy in life is to always first be thankful. Therefore, let us approach the Lord with thankful hearts at this special time and always. Please know that I pray that your celebration of Thanksgiving will be filled with gratitude to God, with the love of family and friends, with many memories and laughter, and of course, with good food!”
Ronnie Cuvillier, pastor of Higher Ground Family Church in Morgan City said he and his family will spend time “being thankful to the Lord for that which he has provided. That’s our basis, of course, for Thanksgiving,” Cuvillier said.
He added that he is thankful for the state and individual communities as well.
“We believe that all those are a provision of his hand,” he said, adding “We are to be thankful for family because that’s where most of us will be for Thanksgiving.”
A church dinner was held Sunday night, Cuvillier said.