Consecrate the day

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Today I bring you a paragraph from the writings of Sarah J. Hale, the mother of our Thanksgiving observance. For many years she lobbied for an official national observance of Thanksgiving. She did not see it merely as a time for feasting with family and friends but also saw it as a time to give compassion to those less fortunate. Here is what she said one year in Godey's Lady's Book, of which she was the editor:

Consecrate the day to benevolence of action, by sending good gifts to the poor, and doing those deeds of charity that will, for one day, make every American home the place of plenty and rejoicing. These seasons of refreshing are of inestimable advantage to the popular heart; and, if rightly managed, will greatly aid and strengthen public harmony of feeling. Let the people of all the States and Territories set down together to the "feast of fat things" and drink, in the sweet draught of joy and gratitude to the Divine giver of all our blessings, the pledge of renewed love to the Union, and to each other; and of peace and good-will to all the world. Then the last Thursday in November will soon become the day of AMERICAN THANKSGIVING throughout the world.

Of course, now the official day is the fourth Thursday in November. May yours be happy and blessed.