The Patriot Post® · Gratitude v. Fear
“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.” —George Washington (1789)
Fellow Patriots, please join me in welcoming this Thanksgiving week as an opportunity to pause, step back, and reflect upon how blessed we really are — blessed far beyond any measure of what we deserve.
Sometimes the strident tone of rancorous political disputes can drown out all that is good and right about our great nation and our people. Amid the enduring struggle to sustain American Liberty, we sometimes become so preoccupied with the challenges we face that we neglect to take account of the full measure of the innumerable ways our Creator has blessed us.
In my Thanksgiving Profile of Valor this week, I noted that we should all live our lives worthy of the great sacrifices of generations before us. But that can be difficult if we are unduly preoccupied. As Medal of Honor recipient James Allen Taylor wrote, “We are home for this uniquely American holiday thanks to the sacrifices of friends and neighbors who answered the call to defend what makes us a nation.”
Too many among us are besieged by varying degrees of fear. Of course, there are threats to us individually and as a nation, but in order for fear to dominate, it must be accompanied by an assumption that there is no power greater than our own.
That errant assumption can lead to desperation and darkness.
In modern translations of the Bible, you will find variations on the theme “Fear Not” or advice on handling fear 365 times — once for each day of the calendar year. In every case, the message is that our Creator has our back.
When our kids were young, I instilled in them the principle that when feeling fearful or lost, they could find themselves by paying attention to simple blessings and mercies, and they could restore hope through the expression of gratitude and service to others. Indeed, amid the daily din, simply being mindfully grateful and serving others pays rich dividends in the currency of hope.
As framed well by Roman statesman and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues but the parent of all the others.”
That principle of expressing gratitude has sustained and renewed my hope for the future of our family, our community, and our country through many challenging seasons.
That principle empowers all of us at The Patriot Post to approach our daily charge with optimism and vigor.
One of the ways God has richly blessed this unworthy servant is by allowing me to lead a team of mostly young Patriots endeavoring to keep the flame of Liberty burning bright. We are honored to share the burden of defending our inheritance of Liberty side by side with you and millions of other Patriots who are steadfast in that defense.
As a touchstone for gratitude, please pause with us this Thanksgiving to reflect upon how blessed we really are. We are grateful for manifold blessings and mercies, and especially for the large fellowship of Patriot brothers and sisters bound together by our devotion to Liberty.
To put our National Day of Thanksgiving into proper context is to express the fullness of gratitude.
In that spirit, especially on this 402nd anniversary of the First Thanksgiving, I invite you to read this compelling “History and Legacy of Our National Thanksgiving” and share it with others.
From the extraordinary journal of Mayflower Compact signer and Plymouth Governor William Bradford: “Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation.”
President George Washington, in his First Thanksgiving Proclamation (October 3, 1789), declared: “Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor … I do recommend and assign [this Thanksgiving Day] to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.”
Indeed.
In President Ronald Reagan’s final Thanksgiving message, he wrote: “We Americans have so much for which to be thankful. … But prosperity is not an end in itself. It helps us pay attention to the more important things: raising our children as we want them to be raised, helping others in need, and bringing nations together in peace. … We will give thanks for these and one thing more: our freedom. Yes, in America, freedom seems like the air around us: It’s there; it’s sweet, though we rarely give it a thought. Yet as the air fills our lungs, freedom fills our souls. It gives breath to our laughter and joy. It gives voice to our songs. It gives us strength as we race for our dreams. Think of those around the world who cannot bow their heads in prayer without risking their lives. … And then think of how blessed we are to be Americans. Yes, as we gather together this Thanksgiving to ask the Lord’s blessings. … Let us thank Him for our peace, prosperity, and freedom.”
For some added inspiration from the mountains of East Tennessee, enjoy listening to “My Beautiful America” by a fellow Tennessean, the late Charlie Daniels.
Patriot sisters and brothers, especially in this season, contemplate all that is good and right: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of American Liberty, and for Veterans, First Responders, and their families.
I also ask the favor of your prayer for our team and mission, which is first and foremost “to support and defend” our Republic’s Founding Principles — the Liberty endowed by our Creator, that we would ignite the fires of freedom in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.
Thank you for the privilege of serving as editor and publisher of The Patriot Post and for
In Washington’s words: “Our cause is noble; it is the cause of all mankind! … Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions.”
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5)
On behalf of your Patriot team and National Advisory Committee, have a grateful and hopeful Thanksgiving. We pray God’s blessings upon you and your family.
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Mark Alexander
Publisher, The Patriot Post
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776