Too often in recent decades we have been a nation that has forgotten the
most important things.

Many Americans have forgotten the importance of the traditional family as
divorce, living together unmarried and the so-called same sex lifestyle has
become more widespread, accepted, even embraced by opinion making elites in
religion, politics and the news media.

Many Americans are trying to change history, convincing us that the
separation of church and state was intended by our founding fathers to mean
something quite different than which our Founding Fathers intended. It is
clear that what they sought to guard against was the establishment of an
official state religion; they did not mean that there should be no public
acknowledgement of a Higher Power or common principles as expressed by the
Ten Commandments.

The shock of 9/11 forced many Americans to reconsider what is most important
in their lives, but as the memory of that terrible day becomes more distant
for many, their thoughts now consumed by their daily lives, things are
returning to "normal."

Fortunately, we have an annual day that provides a good opportunity to take
stock of our lives and what is truly important.

Thanksgiving is a day to remember what is most important in life. There is
no better time to reflect what is most important in your life and that of
your family.

George Washington in 1789, acting upon the recommendation of both Houses of
Congress, issued a proclamation declaring Thursday, November 26, 1789 to be
a "day of public thanksgiving and prayer." His thoughts, as expressed in the
proclamation, are still worth recalling two centuries later.

President Washington's proclamation said the day of Thanksgiving is "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 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."

Those are words worth remembering as much now as when they were written more
than two centuries ago as we gather with family and friends this Thursday.
We have been blessed by the ability to celebrate another Thanksgiving. We
have no idea what the future holds for our country and ourselves, but we
should recall that President Washington's proclamation advised "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 favour."

Let us give thanks to Him that we have been granted another year in which to
celebrate this holiday with those who matter most to us.

Paul M. Weyrich is Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.