My, how things have changed! When you speak of Thanksgiving today a lot folks think of obligatory visits to the in-laws, feasting on turkey and fixin’s, pumpkin and pecan pies, and eating till it hurts, of paid days off, watching football, and getting that “good” deal on black Friday.
Wikipedia defines Thanksgiving as:
“… a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. It is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States. While perhaps religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.
Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines Thanksgiving as:
A public celebration of divine goodness; also, a day set apart for religious services, specially to acknowledge the goodness of God, either in any remarkable deliverance from calamities or danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of his bounties. The practice of appointing an annual thanksgiving originated in New England.
The “modern” definition reflects what most most of us have seen. We’ve forgotten where our bountiful harvest comes from and are taking the life, liberty, and freedom we are given for granted. Sure, for most of us, our gain involved hard work and toil. Paul cautions about idleness in 2 Thessalonians 3 – you don’t work, you don’t eat! In our nation and in our community I see a single path where two groups, the “Haves” and “Have Nots”, are both headed in the wrong direction. They have chosen not look to God who, in his sovereignty, grants the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and the rain the to fall on the just and the unjust Matthew 5:44-45. For the “Haves” this is well illustrated in Debi Ghates article “An American Holiday: The Moral Meaning Behind Thanksgiving”, in Capitalism Magazine. For the “Have Nots” this can be seen in the the dependence on welfare programs and their selfish expression concerning fairness – the “I deserve it too” attitude that is propelling toward socialism.
The Pilgrims at Plymouth in the Autumn of 1621 celebrated their bountiful harvest and gave thanks by acknowledging that their gain was by the goodness of God. 
"our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." Edward Winslow, Mourt's Relation
George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation clearly declared that by the hand of God this nation came to be and thanks must be given in gratitude for the favor he has shown to the nation and to it’s individuals.
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation. 
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-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next 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-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go: Washington
As I meet the various folks in my daily life, and those we try to assist and minister to with food and clothing at the street feeds, I am asking: why don’t they all acknowledge God and recognize who he is and give him thanks for what he has done? I’m not saying everyone is ungrateful, but some are. Some recognize where they are at. Because of the entanglements of this world , the cravings of sinful man, and the lust of the eye, they are bound to the life they live. For some this bondage seems normal because they have no other perspective. The answer is tied to moral boundaries. For many, there are no boundaries. For others, they do not involve, and are not illuminated by, God’s law.. Paul said in Romans 4:15 “…And where there is no law there is no transgression”. By this their is no guilt for them. Without guilt, without recognizing their transgressions – and the consequences of breaking the law - there is no need to be thankful to God for his mercy and favor.
The answer for those whose moral boundaries are not illuminated by God’s law is simple – Matthew 5:13-14 – be salt and let your light shine before men. Salt is used as a means of preserving meat and other foods. It keeps it from rotting. To be effective it must be rubbed into the meat. We must come into contact with those in the world – Jesus did! He was often accused of being the friend of sinners. We must also let the light of Gods law illuminate their lives. By the law we will be judged – and none will be found righteous. With the breaking of the law – of which we are all quilty – the penalty of death must be paid. Through Jesus Christ we have an advocate, one who speaks to the Father in our defense, who has paid the fine for us.
Be salt and let your light shine so that thanks will be given to God!