Ah, Thanksgiving. While each of us surely carry our own unique sentiments towards this holiday, I imagine there is also a great deal of common ground for many of us. For me, personally, I have always enjoyed this passage from many years ago, when Abraham Lincoln called for a special holiday to express gratitude.

“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. 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 soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.

“No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

“It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And 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, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

“In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

“Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth."

Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863.

On a personal note, I have quite a bit to be thankful for, myself. Ironically enough, through all of my challenges of the last several years, there has been a common thought that keeps repeating itself in my head. After all that I’ve lost (or perceive that I’ve lost), and all my limitations, I keep thinking to say to people “be grateful for what you have.” Be grateful that you have a body that functions, that you are free to move and act as you will. Be grateful for your ability to take your kids, and with them to laugh, dance, run and play. Be grateful for your ability to earn a living, exercise, and provide service for others. But virtually every time I’ve thought about saying that, or writing that for others, the thought immediately comes to my head “No, David. You don’t need to tell this to others. You need to tell yourself to be grateful for what you have.”

And it is true. I have so much to be grateful for. I have a loving and wise wife, who has stood by me through the years, and given wise counsel to me, and our children. I have three wonderful children who love each other, and love their parents. Children who, of their own choosing, always pray for me every time they say a prayer. I have family and friends who give encouragement and support. I’m grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, which helps me to overcome much of my selfishness and weakness.

I don’t intend to create a fully elaborated list of what I’m thankful for. Much of it is personal, and I’ve perhaps already waxed too personal in this post. But, as did President Lincoln amidst a time of great trial and conflict, I challenge each of you, along with myself, to look for the many things we have for which we can be grateful. And when we can attribute some of those things to others, let us find ways to thank those who have helped bless our lives, and then work to lift others as we have been lifted.