Deo Gratias

In the Jewish faith, rich in tradition and culture, on the feast of Passover, the youngest person at the table asks the question “Why is this night different from all other nights?” The question allows the children to learn of the past and to reflect on the history of their ancestors.

On this Thanksgiving Day, let us ask the question, “Why is this Thanksgiving different from all the others?” Why should our gratitude be stronger, more intense, and more meaningful in the year 2010? Let us take a moment to reflect on the events of this past year.

Thanksgiving is by its very nature a feast of reflection, of appreciation and of gratitude for all we have, all we have been blessed with. This year, unlike so many others, we here in America realized that our freedoms, our boundless opportunities, our unbridled spirit and our limitless pursuit of happiness, all those things we have taken for granted for far too many years, are not etched in stone, but only exist to the extent that we, the citizens of this great nation, are prepared to fight for them.

Remember the words of Marcus Aurelius as he spoke of Rome in the movie Gladiator “There was a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish, it was so fragile.” We finally understood that our American Dream, all we cherish, all we hold dear for our children, could vanish before our eyes under the misguided leadership of a president and a congress that sought to destroy all that was good in America. The only safeguard for these precious blessings was the will of the patriotic citizens of our nation.

So let us give thanks for the Great Awakening of the American People. Let us gratefully acknowledge that We the People finally accepted our responsibility to become engaged in our politics, to raise our voices, and to stem the tide of socialism and the soft tyranny that would strip our away our liberties and subject us to a government leviathan, intent on crushing American greatness and prosperity. Let us pledge that our gratitude will forever be accompanied by our continued vigilance and action, for we have only slowed the demise of our country, and we must be prepared for a long fight to again right our ship of state.

Let us also remember to give thanks for the selfless sacrifices of the American warriors, both past and present, for their constant vigilance, keeping us safe from those who would do us harm, and likewise give thanks to their families, who live each day without their loved ones, hoping and praying for their continued safety. May our heavenly Father watch over each and every one of them, holding them close to His merciful breast, and shielding them from harm.

Let us, on this Thanksgiving Day, give thanks for our ancestors, our parents and grandparents, who traveled to this land of opportunity in hopes of providing us with a better life. If you are fortunate enough to still have your parents and grandparents, call them and thank them. Tell them you love them. Thank them for your life in America. If they are gone, and if you believe in an afterlife as I do, thank them in your thoughts – they will surely hear you and smile.

For those of us with children and grandchildren, thank God for the joy they bring to our lives, for their love and affection.

Finally, let us drop to our knees and give thanks to our God, whose divine mercy has placed us here, in this great nation, at this special time, blessed beyond the dreams of all the other people on this planet. Let us accept these blessings, cherish them, and be the stewards who will pass them on to future generations of Americans, who must always do their duty to make this world a better place in His name.

Deo Gratias.