Devotion - Tuesday, November 23

Thanksgiving Day is not on the liturgical calendar. It is on most Church calendars in the U.S. (and Canada, on a different date.) What we observe as Thanksgiving Day is traced to the Pilgrims in early 17th century. It wasn’t until 1941 that it became an official, national holiday. Thanksgiving Day is not on the liturgical calendar, it is a holiday which has lost many of its religious affiliations, but it a day worthy of observance.

In Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, we are instructed to acknowledge and give thanks for all that God has given us. In his explanation to the fourth petition, “Give us this day our daily bread,” Luther writes: “God gives daily bread, even without our prayer, to all people, though sinful, but we ask in this prayer that he will help us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanks.” Luther reminds us, “Daily bread includes everything needed for this life, such as food and clothing, home and property, word and income, a devoted family, an orderly community, good government, favorable weather, peace and health, a good name, and true friends and neighbors.”

Every day, Luther’s writings would encourage us to understand, is a day of thanksgiving.

As you travel home today to be with family and friends, be thankful. Remain thankful. Express your thankfulness to those with whom you share the weekend and to the God who has given you and still provides your “daily bread.”