A Republic to be Thankful For

Sometimes we need to pause for a moment. To allow ourselves to be reminded of all that is good in our lives.

There’s always much to be thankful for.

We’re deeply grateful for our family and loved ones.

We’re grateful for the ability to wonder, to question, to grow and explore. We’re grateful for the ability to speak our minds and engage in debate. We’re grateful for the gift of critical thinking.

We’re grateful for this country that helped make these things possible for so many people.

We are grateful for the freedom given to us by others.

We were gifted the greatest of documents so many years ago when our founding fathers created the Constitution of the United States.

A mere 4,400 words long (7,600 including the Amendments) and just four simple pages. It’s the oldest – and shortest – written Constitution in the world.

And yet, nothing more important than the creation of those four pages has occurred in our history as a nation.

It’s said that Benjamin Franklin wept as he signed the Constitution. Eighty-one years old and so infirm he required assistance – and yet he came, and he signed.

And he wept.

Because he understood the moment given to him.

On leaving the Pennsylvania State House, Franklin was asked the type of government just created. Franklin responded simply:

“A Republic, madam. If you can keep it.”

And somehow, someway, we have kept it through all these years. Never more than now.

That alone should be worth some tears of thankfulness, for it has not come easy.

With great gifts come great responsibilities – and sacrifices have been made by many in defense of this great nation – these States become United.

And so, on this Thanksgiving, We ask you to take stock of those many gifts given us by others.

On this day originally created by President George Washington to give thanks for our new Constitution – and our new nation.

Our United States.