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THANKSGIVING'S ORIGINS AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT:The official declaration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday occurred in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, amidst the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg, to offer thanks to God and pray for national healing.The Puritans' first Thanksgiving in 1621 followed a period of severe hardships, including a delayed voyage on the Mayflower, a tough winter, and a period known as "the starving time," where nearly half of the Puritans perished.PERSEVERANCE AND FAITH OF THE PURITANS:Despite their struggles, the Puritans' Thanksgiving celebrated survival and harvest, with Governor William Bradford using a passage from Hebrews 11 to commemorate their faith and longing for a heavenly country.The Puritans' journey was motivated by a quest for religious freedom, facing persecution in England and even in Holland, leading to their risky expedition to the New World. LESSONS ON GRATITUDE AND GOD'S PROVIDENCE:Be thankful for religious freedom and God's role in providing for us. Deu