I don’t think 2020 has turned out the way anyone could have imagined. However, as we enter into the holiday season and move towards Thanksgiving, there are so many things we have to be thankful for.
The History of Thanksgiving
In a recent blog post The History Channel reports, “In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today, as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.” (Thanksgiving 2020).
The Practice of Thankfulness
Thanksgiving is a perfect example of the practice of thankfulness. You see, thankfulness isn’t just a state of being, it can also be something that we demonstrate in our daily lives. There are things that we are thankful for such as family, friendship, and provision, but we can also serve others from a place of gratitude.
Thankfulness can be demonstrated through our actions. For example, one might take a gift to their boss or make a meal to bless a family and show appreciation. There are many ways that thankfulness can be demonstrated through giving.
…and did you know that reading to children is one of them?! If you are thankful for the education you received, the ability to read, or the role models that poured into your life as a child, would you consider demonstrating your thankfulness by signing up to become a volunteer?
With over 6,000 students in the Greater Austin area falling below their grade level reading ability, we could use your help! It only takes 30 minutes, once a week to make a huge difference in the life of two students. It’s easy to register, just visit www.education-connection.org and click on the 2020-2021 Volunteer Registration button.