The Board of Directors and staff of the Illinois Family Institute wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. We are grateful for your continued prayers and support as we work together to defend and advance biblical family values in Illinois. It is our prayer that you and your family will experience God’s deep blessings this Thanksgiving weekend as we express our gratitude to Him for His continued protection, provision and providence in and over our lives, our families, and our country.

Giving thanks is being grateful for who God is in the midst of everything. Its focus is on God and who He is, not on what we think we deserve. The entitlement mentality has swept our nation — even the body of Christ. But God is good and merciful, even when were were sinners. When we realize who we are and how far short we fall in contrast to who God is and what He has given us, we are grateful in the midst of whatever circumstance may come our way.

Here at IFI, we are grateful for the donors and supporters who have remained faithful in their support of IFI and our mission throughout this year, many doing so despite diminished income and revenues.

As we sit down for turkey, stuffing, and gravy, let us gives thanks for these great blessings, as well as all the other wonderful works done by our Savior over the last year. Let us remember the brave Pilgrims who came to America not because it was easy, but because they knew God had called them to begin a unique work of Judeo-Christian values that would become the most exceptional nation on earth.

We encourage you to share with family and friends this first Presidential Thanksgiving Day Proclamation given in 1789 by George Washington:

“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 shown 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.