Happy Thanksgiving

     Now thank we all our God
     With heart and hands and voices
     Who wondrous things hath done
     In whom the world rejoices.
     Who from our mother's arms
     Has blessed us on our way
     With countless gifts of love
     And still is ours today.         (Martin Rinkart)

     This beautiful hymn, one of the most popular of all Thanksgiving hymns was written in a time of great tragedy. The 30 Years War raged across Germany from 1618-1648. Between half and two thirds of the population of Germany was killed by famine, disease, starvation or direct acts of war. Martin Rinkart was a pastor in a walled city, a place that was considered to be a haven. Instead it was a death trap as it was overrun by three armies. Inside the city there were the problems of starvation and plague. In one year Pastor Rinkart performed over 5000 funerals. He was the last surviving pastor in the city. One of those funerals was for his wife.
     In the midst of this series of calamities he wrote "Now Thank We All Our God". He knew that it wasn't just the size of the house or bank account for which we are to be thankful. He knew that it wasn't just because the turkey smelled great and all the family could gather that we are supposed to be thankful. We are thankful because God sent His Son to save us. We are thankful because our loving God always loves us with an everlasting love.
     Pastor Rinkart knew this. On this Thanksgiving Day let us remember that for which we are truly most thankful. Let us give God all the praise and glory. The psalmist said, O give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy is everlasting. Indeed it is. Thank you heavenly Father for your gift of love to us each day.