Thanksgiving of Your Own Free Will

THANKSGIVING OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL

Last week I became nostalgic, thinking of Thanksgivings past. I remembered the song we always sang at this time of year “Over the River and Through the Woods”. However, as I reviewed the lyrics in my memory, I found it hard to relate to Thanksgiving. Turns out, I only remembered the first verse and I bet you do too.

Verse 1 

Over the river and through the woods,
To grandmother's house we go;
The horse knows the way

to carry the sleigh,
Through (the) white and drifted snow!

Over the river and through the woods,
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

I thought it strange a song we sang at Thanksgiving seemed better suited for Christmas, so I did some digging. The second verse actually mentions our wonderful holiday and the third pays homage to the one dessert everyone in America associates with Thanksgiving – Pumpkin Pie!

Verse 2

Over the river and through the woods,

To have a first-rate play;
Oh, hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ling!"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river and through the woods,
Trot fast, my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Verse 3

Over the river and through the woods,
And straight through the barnyard gate.
We seem to go extremely slow
It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the woods,
Now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

But, in all seriousness, as great as this song is, it does not tell why we celebrate or to Whom we give THANKS.

As children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we know to Whom we give thanks. It is He, the great I AM. He owns it ALL, the land, the sea and all that is in it, as well as the beasts in the forest and the cattle on a thousand hills. He also owns us. He created and formed us declaring, “…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)

So on this Thanksgiving Day, offer to God thanksgiving. “And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, offer it of your own free will.” (Psalm 50:14; Lev. 22:29). Enter into His gates; come before His presence, proclaim with the voice and sing to the Lord with thanksgiving, and finally, magnify Him with thanksgiving. (Ps 100:4; Ps 95:2; Ps. 26:7; Ps 147:7; Ps 69:30)

Why should we do this, because only Our God is worthy.

Have a BLESSED Thanksgiving!