I love Thanksgiving. It has the family, the food and the laughter without all the expectations and commercialism. Christmas can be hard because it has to compete in people’s minds against all the movie and Christmas versions. But, how many Thanksgiving movies are there?   While Christmas is usually about giving, Thanksgiving should be about returning thanks to God for all the blessings.  When President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a  national holiday, he wrote:  “I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such  singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.” His words are as relevant today as they were in 1863 and have inspired my five ways to put the thanks back in Thanksgiving. 1.- “sojourning in foreign lands” – Say a prayer at your Thanksgiving table for those who are away from home, especially those who serve our nation in both military and civil service.  While you do so, look around at those seated next to you and savor the joy of being with those you love. 2.- “beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens” – Jesus offered Himself on the altar of the Cross as a sacrifice to our heavenly Father for the sins of all humankind.  The Mass is our participation in that Sacrifice.  He gave us bread and wine to offer so that we do not have to die on a Cross to know the fruits of His victory.  The Eucharist comes from a Greek word meaning “thanksgiving.” Go to Mass on Thanksgiving if you can,  or another day if you’re roasting the bird, and tell God how grateful you are for everything, especially for saving you. 3.- “humble penitence” – Old Abe hits it on the head.  In order to be truly grateful to God, we have to be really aware of how much mercy He has given us. This should evoke in us not just thanks, but also sorrow for the times that we ignore His generosity. Tell God you’re sorry, and the best place to do that is in Confession. 4.- “commend to his tender care”- If we call ourselves followers of Jesus, we must help those in need.  In addition to putting some cans in the food drive this holiday season, mark the last Thursday of each month as a mini-Thanksgiving. On this mini-Thanksgiving day, stop and call to mind again your blessings and give God praise. Then, make a point to share with those who need your help. Food pantries need food not just in November. 5.- “Almighty Hand” – Abraham Lincoln was not afraid to talk about God. Some think that the voice of faith has no place in public discourse. We must be thankful not just for the gift of life and  liberty, but the also for the Creator who gives us all that is good. We should be proud and thankful to know the Lord, and we should not be afraid or embarrassed to share Him and His joy with others.