On Thanksgiving Day I offered several reminders to friends and family.

The first was to remember the Pilgrims and the Indians came together long ago to give thanks to God for what He had abundantly provided: including food, shelter, new friendships and their very lives.

And, secondly, I asked that we remember to share the good news with others. What better way to receive a blessing than to share it?

Thanksgiving Day (a national holiday) was originally set aside by the Pilgrims and their new Native American friends, specifically for giving thanks — to each other — and especially to God.

Unfortunately, and to our decline, many of us as Americans think of it as a day off, a paid holiday, a big meal and maybe a visit with our family members.

What are we doing America? What are we doing to our children? Over the years, thanks to commercialization, our inattention, a desire to get along, and to not offend others, our national holiday, set aside for “thanks giving” to God, has been glazed over as one of the days of “the holiday shopping season.”

If you want to know what “we are doing to our loved ones and our country” — read II Chronicles 7:14.

Every day, including this Thursday passed, we should do our part to remember, to remind ourselves, our friends and our community that this particular national holiday should be revived, and returned to: “Thanks Giving Day” — literally, a day of “Giving Thanks” for His abundant blessings. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) (Psalms 118:1)

May each of us pause, reflect, and remember to more openly share our thanks for the blessings from God. Give thanks for every breath, for every heartbeat, for every challenge and for every victory, His and ours.

“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whosoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

“Almighty God, who lives and reigns forever, we give you thanks for all the blessings you bestow upon us.” Amen.

Staying together, saying together, and praying together we can get us right again.

Remember, JesUSAves.

Oh, and let me and my family be the first to wish you and your family a very merry and blessed “CHRISTmas!”

Dan Hieronimus

Ironton