George Washington proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving on October 3rd, 1789, at a time when the United States was still a young and fragile nation. Having only recently secured its independence, the country was rebuilding, unifying, and learning what it meant to govern itself. Washington believed it was important for the people to pause and give thanks—both for their freedom and for the blessings that had carried them through those early, uncertain years.

Fast forward exactly 74 years, on October 3rd, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln’s administration issued a proclamation for a National Day of Thanksgiving across all states for two reasons.

  • At the time, our Country was being torn apart by a Great Civil War.
  • Up until that time, each state had its own day of thanksgiving in recognition of the tradition set forth by the Pilgrims and later affirmed by Washington at the birth of our nation.

In declaring a National Day of Thanksgiving, Lincoln sought to remind the people of the blessings they had seen and received—even during the Civil War—and to solidify our unity as one nation under God, not merely a collection of states and peoples.

Today, during this week of Thanksgiving, in times of turmoil, sadness, and strife, we set aside a day to be filled with gratitude for all that we have been given.

It is important to remember

  • We are One Nation – a people joined together
  • We have been blessed with great security, allowing families to grow and thrive
  • We have access to an abundance of resources and education
  • Even when life feels heavy, we must have the attitude and ability to be grateful.

Thanksgiving was born out of hardship, meant to unify the nation, and still serves as a reminder to be grateful and united today. The rest I leave to President Lincoln:

“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 … 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 one 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.“

We are so very thankful for your trust in Masters Financial Group to assist you in growing, maintaining, and protecting your financial resources. We exist to serve clients like you. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!