Under a federal law passed by Congress in 1942, the date for Thanksgiving in the United States varies from year to year. It’s the fourth Thursday of the month.
But the anniversary of the first official Thanksgiving set by federal decree in our country is November 26th.
In 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation that made November 26, 1789 the first Thanksgiving Day designated as such by our national government.
As Thanksgiving Day approaches nowadays, I often think of one of our family dogs who died unexpectedly before Thanksgiving in 2009, from a genetic autoimmune problem that could not be fixed.
Her name was Boojie.
She was a beautiful, sweet-natured Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.
My wife and I loved her dearly and her passing left a hole in our hearts that lasted a long time. (Since partially filled by another beautiful Wheaten Terrier we named Barbie Boo.)
I am not a religious person. But I do believe that we all can have feelings that might be called “spiritual” or “religious.”
The bonds I’ve had with dogs like Boojie and other animals come closest to giving me such feelings.
The word thanksgiving was popularized in English by the Bible, in which it is used many times. My favorite Bible verse using this word is in Timothy 4:4, which says (in the King James version):
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.”
On this November 26th, I dedicate my post and that quotation to Boojie.
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