It is well that ye be reminded, then, of how - in those
periods when there were the preparations in the lives
and experiences of a peculiar people, under unusual
circumstances, in extraordinary environments - they were
reminded, not in their days of plenty but in the days when
each day they were given only sufficient for that day, that
periods were to be, should be, set aside when thanksgiving
was to be a part of their activity, - their remembrances for
all the joys, the sorrows, the disappointments, the hopes
that were and might be theirs if - IF - they would but hold
to those promises; relying, - as it was necessary in those
days, those hours, for a complete dependence, - upon the
bounty of a merciful Father, who had a purpose in the
bringing out, in the edifying, in the directing.
And today, a ye look back upon those experiences, ye - TOO -
find thyselves chosen.
Have ye chosen Him?
For as was given then, "If ye will be my people, I will be
thy God!"
This is a universal experience, then. To each soul gathered
here, to each soul throughout the land, to each soul as may
be in all lands: "IF YE WILL BE MY PEOPLE, I WILL BE THY
GOD!"
Then in this land, - as ye understand, - when in the
experiences of a handful of those seeking a place where they
might worship God according to the dictates of their own
conscience, the bounties of the land were in such measures
as to preserve their lives, - then there was the proclamation
that thanksgiving must be in the mind and heart of each soul.
So in THIS land was set the precedent that has come to
mean so much that year after year thy rulers of the several
States, thy director in the general, have kept, do keep that
precedent.
Then, to ALL: As ye do in the spirit of TRUE thanksgiving
come to realize, as ye find in thy daily experience with
thy fellow man, - he that is unappreciative of opportunity,
of care, of thought, of longsuffering, to thine OWN mind
becomes very little.
What, then, will YE - as servants, - yea, as children of a
living God, of a living promise to thee - DO ABOUT such a
period, such a day?
For the day itself is as nothing. Remember how He as the
Teacher of teachers gave that the Sabbath was made for man,
NOT man for the Sabbath!
Then remember, Thanksgiving is thy OPPORTUNITY to show
thy appreciation to thy friend, thy home, thy mother,
thy children, - yea, most of all to thy God!
As it may be truly said, - of all the days for MAN'S
opportunity, of man's making, of man's concern, - TRULY
Thanksgiving should be nearer and dearer to the hearts of
those who are appreciative of Life and its opportunities,
under ANY experience!
For remember, it was instituted not under plenty but under
needs.
What is the need then of man in this day of disturbed mind,
of anxieties?
That ye may reconsecrate, rededicate - each of you - thy
heart, thy body, thy purpose, to the LIVING God!
This is the message then that should be to all.
Let this day of Thanksgiving be not only that wherein to
enjoy that which may satiate the body, that which may make
for the gratifying of appetites of the body, but that day
when each of you may give thanks to God for BEING alive,
- with the opportunities to raise thy voice in prayer, in
praise, in thanksgiving for the love He hath shown, that He
showers upon thee day by day!
And as ye do this, - in the SPIRIT of love, in the spirit of
truth, of patience, of longsuffering, - ye will receive that
awareness of His closeness to thee. And this will bring you
to the greater knowledge, the greater understanding of what
He would have thee do.
Let thy life, thy experience then, be not without purpose.
WHAT DO YE THEN PURPOSE TO DO WITH HIS PROMISES TO THEE?
In THIS land ye may give praise for freedom of speech, for
the opportunities to raise thy voice in WHATEVER way and
manner ye choose.
For know, as He taught, the principles of life are that as
ye do unto the least of thy brethren ye do unto thy Maker.
Then, as ye give thanks, as ye give praise to thy friends
for kindnesses, for gentlenesses, for those things that
make thy experience more bearable in a cruel world, - under
circumstances oft where a troubled heart is made lighter, -
how much greater in this day, then, that is set aside by thy
laws, by the judgments of thy governors and of thy president,
- how much MORE ye would give thanks to God!
For it is in Him indeed that ye live, that ye move and have
thy being.
Let thy heart then be glad.
And as has been indicated, let each raise his voice in
thanksgiving for ALL that has, that may come to pass in the
experience of each SOUL that prays, "THY WILL, O GOD, BE DONE
IN ME - NOW. NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS THOU WOULD HAVE ME GO."
Pray that peace may be in the minds and hearts of those who
direct the destiny of the many, throughout the world. For
they are NOT in power of THEMSELVES, but that YE - too -
may learn a lesson to DO, and to seek to do, the will
of thy Father; and not to do that which is IN direct
contradiction to that of praise to thy Lord, thy God.
Keep then that Day in praise, in thanksgiving, in such ways,
such a manner that ye show to thy conscience that what ye
worship as thy God is aware of THY appreciation of LIFE!
We are through.
REPORTS
3/08/39 Mr. [
257]'s letter: "Did you notice that President
Roosevelt used the quotation from Micah which is the same
that the readings always give? 'Oh, Lord, what dost thou
require of us, but to do justly, love mercy and walk
humbly with thy God.'"
