Picture a Thanksgiving table: family and friends gathered, laughter mixing with the aroma of mashed potatoes and pies. It’s messy, heartfelt, and human. But in recent years, this spirit feels harder to hold onto. Can Thanksgiving still unite us? Abraham Lincoln believed it could, even in a time of national turmoil.

In 1863, at the height of the Civil War, President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. His goal? To unify a fractured nation. At a time when families were torn apart and grief hung in the air, Lincoln envisioned a day to pause — not to ignore differences but to reflect on what united people: resilience, hope, and gratitude.

That vision feels strikingly relevant today.

Thanksgiving is A Moment to Reflect on What Unites Us

Thanksgiving, to me, isn’t about reliving history. It’s about what we do today: putting down our phones, sitting together, and finding common ground.

We all know the familiar story of the 1621 feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag. But Thanksgiving as we know it owes its place on the calendar to Lincoln’s vision to unify a fractured nation. In the darkest days of the Civil War, he declared it a time for resilience, hope, and togetherness.

Today, we face a different kind of divide. Our tables are smaller, our conversations harder, and the gaps between us feel wider than ever. Yet, like Lincoln, we can choose to focus on what unites us: our shared humanity.

Lesson from Lincoln is Resilience and Hope

In 1863, Lincoln’s proclamation came at a time of unimaginable suffering. Families were torn apart by war. Grief and uncertainty were everywhere. And yet, he called on Americans to pause. Not to ignore their pain. But to find strength in gratitude.

What can we learn from this today? How can gratitude help us bridge the divides we face in our own time?

For Lincoln, Thanksgiving wasn’t about romanticizing the past. It was about envisioning a better future. That’s a lesson we desperately need now.

Are We Losing Sight of What Connects Us?

Conversations about race, inequality, and injustice dominate our lives. These discussions are overdue and necessary. But if we focus only on what separates us, we risk losing sight of what connects us.

Have we forgotten how far we’ve come? Sixty years ago, segregation was the norm. Civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and John Lewis fought to bring us closer to their dream of equality and a world that judged by character.

What would those leaders think if they saw us today? I believe they’d be proud of the progress we’ve made, but concerned by how often we fixate on our differences. They’d remind us to keep fighting injustice, yes, but also to celebrate our shared humanity.

They’d want us to lift each other up.

Humanizing Each Other

Thanksgiving used to be a time when people with different beliefs and backgrounds gathered around the same table. Conversations weren’t always easy, but they mattered. Sharing a meal helped us see each other as people — not just as opposing viewpoints.

Now, more than ever, we must rediscover that connection.

Who in your life do you see differently because of your differences? What would it mean to connect with them this Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving offers us the chance to bridge divides. Not by avoiding hard conversations, but by approaching them with empathy and openness.

The people across the table aren’t just “the other side.” They’re family, friends, and neighbors. They’re human, just like you.

Gratitude as a Bridge to the Future

Gratitude isn’t just about looking back; it’s about moving forward. It helps us build bridges toward the future we want

A future rooted in hope, understanding, and shared humanity.

This Thanksgiving, I’m choosing gratitude. Gratitude for how far we’ve come, for the people in my life, and for the hope that we can keep moving forward together.

Who will you lift up this year? How will you use Thanksgiving to reflect, connect, and rebuild?

Let’s Observe Thanksgiving’s Intent

Let’s honor Lincoln’s vision this Thanksgiving. Let’s come together. Not in spite of our differences, but because of them.

Take a moment to reach out to someone you’ve grown distant from. Share a meal. Start a conversation.

What does Thanksgiving mean to you? How will you make it count this year?

About the Author
Will is just another guy sharing tools for the toolbox. Lessons learned along the way from time spent in the military, corporate life, and everywhere in between. Doesn’t have all the answers, always looking to learn, and if something picked up can make a difference for someone else, that’s what matters.

© 2024 Will Sage. All rights reserved.