The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-11-30
GIVING THANKS

amt thanksgiving OF Il people who
worship God and recognize His
hand in their affairs. Some wor-
shipped in the churches, others in
the field and still others i'm the Of
flee and shop. The busy financier
paused moment and brcathed a
soft prayer; the orphan child in
the home of orphans returned
thanks for Gods goodness. The
hller> of the soil rcjoiccd over a
goodly harvest, and the men of
business blessed the hand that
brought them prosperity. The peo-
pie gave thanks to God.
And why is it so? Many years
ago the Pilgrim fathers in the New
England settlements met together
and reviewed their conditions and
changes. And there amidst the
wild, bleak and unconqucrcd lands
OF the northeast, with scant shelter,
little food and dangers ever from
both the elements and the savage
Indians, they decided that there
was much for which they should be
thankful. And SO they proclaimed
it. From this act, custom was
instituted and has prevailed since.
a noble example set by the hardy
settlers of earlier days! And it is
indeed a great legacy handed down
to us; that we should one day in
the year, make inventory, balance
up. and give credit to whom credit
Is due. 1T our forcfathers had
aught to be thankful for, how much
more have we. They were in the
midst of a wilderness, surrounded
by hostile tribes of Indians; their
fields were uncultivatcd, their for
csts not yet conquered Their
loved ones were across the ocean:
they were strangers in a strange
land, with cold, starvation, dan
gers and even death to be met and
overcome. And yet they gave
thanks to a God of goodness. Much /,
more, then, should we give thanks;
by our loved ones. in
the midst of lifc's comforts and ,
even luXuries, with no dangers to
face, such as theS had. Our lot is
cast in a pleasant place, where life |
Is safe and sweet where schools and |
colleges are at hand and the gospel |
is preached and men may worship
as they please. Around us are the
cultivated fields that yield their
harvests every year, and on every
hand may be heard the humming
wheels of a thousand industries.
And do we owe thanks to God |
for all these blessings? Only fool
will claim unto himself the credit !
for the conditions that surround
him. First and foremost we owe
to God credit for our very existence
and an opportunity to live and do
things. In Him is the source of
our life and in Him lies the power
to withdraw the gift. That we live
is due to Gods goodness. Further
more, we daily trespass against His
laws and if justice were done our
lots would not be SO pleasant; but
we are taught that He is a long. suf !
fering and kind Father who for
bears Furnishing his children. Our
sins merit punishment and without
Gods mercy we should receive it.
Instead, His directing hand is ever
leading us through the pathway of
life, helping us over the rough places,
guiding us into fields of plenty and
assisting us in all we seek to do.
Then we should praise His name
and do so in a spirit of humility. |
Let Byron's prayer be ours:
ITO thee / breathe my humble
strain,
Grateful for all their mercies past,
And hope, my God, to thee
again,
This crring life may fly at last -