Even When the World Feels Tumultuous, Give Thanks for Our Blessings and Our Sacred Constitutional Republic

Thanksgiving is a cherished American tradition with deep historical roots tracing back to the early 17th century. For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time to gather with our loved ones, reconnect, and celebrate. And, of course, if we’re lucky, there’s usually copious portions of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, along with an annual football game as part of the celebration.

Some might argue that a holiday dating back four centuries might not be relevant anymore. But I believe Thanksgiving is more relevant than ever.

This holiday offers a much-needed opportunity to pause from the chaos of daily life, take stock of our blessings, and express gratitude to each other and to almighty God. In our modern era of fast-paced living and digital distractions, Thanksgiving provides a moment to reconnect with family and friends. It also encourages a spirit of generosity, with many Americans volunteering or donating to those less fortunate.

And maybe this year, Thanksgiving can serve as a unifying occasion for us, not only with our family and friends but with our neighbors beyond our streets and neighborhoods. After all, Thanksgiving encourages gratitude and fosters a spirit of togetherness across diverse cultures and backgrounds.

America has been feeling painfully divided for the better part of the last decade. And having just come through a divisive election season, the need for community and healing has never felt greater. I imagine many Americans will give thanks that the election is over and pray that we can start to build bridges and remember what’s always made this country great. After all, this Thanksgiving comes on the eve of major changes in our nation.

I hope that in the new year, under a new Administration, the federal government will no longer willfully add to the division in America by labeling a large portion of us – conservatives and Christians – as criminals and “domestic terrorists.” Thanks to the courageous FBI whistleblowers whom we are representing in federal court, we know the Biden FBI has been targeting Christians. We’ve already successfully represented one of these courageous agents and won. And we’re currently representing another, Agent Garret O’Boyle, who offered the chilling warning that “[t]his government will crush you and your family if you try to expose the truth.”

And we are particularly thankful that the U.S. Army will no longer be using training materials that view pro-life Americans and pro-life organizations – such as our friends at Operation Rescue – as terrorists. As we told you, thanks to the diligent work of our ACLJ legal team, the Army has apologized for this and assured us that it will not happen again.

As Americans, we have much to be thankful for as we cast our eyes toward 2025. We are blessed to live in the United States, where we are able to gather with those we love and celebrate holidays like Thanksgiving. But we must also remember our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are not so fortunate. A little perspective makes a nice compliment to any holiday meal.

As you give thanks, please remember Shahzad Masih, the innocent young Pakistani Christian who was sentenced to hang because of his faith. Arrested at 16 on bogus blasphemy charges – his youth stolen from him – Shahzad now languishes on death row. This Thanksgiving, as many of us celebrate in comfort, Shahzad will remain locked behind bars, as will another young Pakistani Christian, Ahsan Masih, also sentenced to death under Pakistan’s archaic blasphemy laws. Our legal affiliates on the ground in Pakistan continue to fight for the lives of these innocent Christians, and they urgently need your prayers as well so that we might soon be celebrating their freedom.

Thanksgiving is as relevant today as it was almost 200 years ago when President Lincoln declared it a holiday at the height of the Civil War – probably the most divided our country has ever been (and they weren’t just arguing politics over the dinner table.) It’s as relevant as it was over 400 years ago when the Pilgrims broke bread with the Wampanoag Tribe to form a bond of peace and fellowship among very different cultures.

This year, as you gather with your loved ones, I humbly ask that we all pray for peace and a renewed sense of faith, community, and goodwill across our country. Pray that in the coming year ahead, America will continue to heal and prosper. When we focus on our blessings and our shared accomplishments, we might stop worrying so much about our differences.

On behalf of everyone at the ACLJ, I personally thank each ACLJ Member and ACLJ Champion for supporting our critical legal work. We couldn’t continue to defend life, liberty, and the sound future of our constitutional republic without you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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