Greetings y’all, I am praying that everyone will enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends. This is one of those special American celebrations, traditions, but it is also imperative that we understand the real nature of why we should be giving thanks.

This special time is connected to our US Constitution, namely, our Bill of Rights. This day in November, when we gather for a feast, was not referred to by the name “Thanksgiving” until a declaration by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863…a time when our Nation needed unity, as it fought to preserve its purpose of individual liberty.

It was the Fall of 1621 when the newly arrived Pilgrims celebrated their survival and successful harvest in this, the New World. History tells us that there were some 52 English Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag native Americans who came together to break bread. Yes, I am sure there will be those reading this missive and condemning the early settlers, but that is not the focus of this writing. The question we should ponder is, why were the Pilgrims here in this land? The answer is simple: they were fleeing religious persecution.

Years prior, King Henry VIII had established the Church of England, and there were severe consequences for not worshipping through that church. And here is the real reason why we have the ideal of the Separation of Church and State. It was intended to establish the premise that in America, we would not follow the example from England and create a state-sponsored religion. This concept, written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Convention of Connecticut, meant to protect religion, the Church, and faith, from the incursion of the State, not the opposite.

The Pilgrims came and enabled us to understand that freedom of religion and the free exercise thereof, along with the understanding that the government shall not establish a religion, would become our First Liberty in our Bill of Rights. I often ask people, “What is our very First Liberty?” Many people respond to the question with freedom of speech. Nope, it is the Freedom of Religion, and the free exercise thereof.

That is why it was very disconcerting when the government ordered Churches to be closed during the COVID-19 issue. Churches were not deemed “essential.” Yet, we saw that fast food restaurants, retail stores, like a Home Depot, marijuana stores, and even abortion clinics were granted “essential” status. Yes, say what you wish, but that was a violation of our First Liberty.

So, tomorrow, as you sit down to dine and enjoy a bountiful feast, remember the precedent that the Pilgrims established, one that is fundamental to our individual rights. We indeed are facing challenges in our America, the longest-running Constitutional Republic that the world has ever known. However, we have been greatly blessed, and we should give thanks for being able to live and take in the sweet aroma of freedom. Marxist, socialist, islamo-fascist, and communist nations do not have a Thanksgiving. There is a reason why.

Me? I will be frying turkey and spiral ham as we gather at my oldest daughter’s house and enjoy a day that the Lord has made. And we will be watching lots of football, another great American tradition.

Happy Thanksgiving, Steadfast and Loyal.