Thanksgiving

It has been nearly 400 years since the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast.  This was the beginning of American Thanksgiving celebrations.  As years passed, the colonists celebrated at different times in different colonies.  In 1789, President George Washington became the first president to proclaim a Thanksgiving holiday, when he proclaimed November 26, a Thursday, as a day of national thanksgiving for the U.S. Constitution.  Interesting that Thanksgiving this year fall on the same date!  How many of you are thankful for the U.S. Constitution? In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared that Thanksgiving would be on the last Thursday in November, and subsequent presidents followed this pattern until Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed a bill into law on November 26, 1941, officially making the fourth Thursday in November the national holiday of Thanksgiving Day.

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As I look back on 2020 so far, it seems there isn’t a lot to be thankful for.  Between COVID and elections that are still making news daily, the random scandal or two in high places, and the general confusion over masks and social distancing, it would seem that the year is a loss.  I beg to differ.  Psalm 136 starts with, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”  I have done a fair amount of traveling this year in spite of COVID, and I have seen the beauty and wonder of this amazing country.  I have seen that in spite of fear, people are willing to help each other, and I firmly believe that no matter what else happens, God is still on the throne and in control. 

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I have spoken to many shop owners (practicing social distancing, of course) and heard the wonderful news of ways they survived the weeks of forced closures, from running specials on long arm services and keeping their staff busy running the machines, to starting an in house manufacturing system to provide masks to local businesses.  Owners who had never done mail order learned how and started doing it.  They set up curb side pickup, and used face time to communicate with customers and help select fabric.  They started online classes.  They did live sales on Facebook and You Tube.  These wonderful people took the attitude that they would help their customers no matter what, and I – along with many other quilters – am thankful for their work and resilience in keeping shops functioning. 

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So let us each take some time to look at the positives, the things that have gone well this year, rather than focusing on all of the things that have (apparently for now) gone wrong.  I have used pictures of the scenery I have seen as I travel for this post, rather than quilts and fabric, because the beauty of this earth is worth admiring. If you have a roof over your head – be thankful.  If you have food on the table – be thankful.  If you have the luxury of fabric and a way to sew with it – be thankful.  Above all, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  His love endures forever.  Thanksgiving blessings to each and every one of you, and to your loved ones as well. I will see you all on Monday, when I will continue introducing new Quilt Shops.