{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206074526/http://messer.house.gov/media-center/editorials/transforming-common-days-into-days-of-thanksgiving", "Transforming common days into days of Thanksgiving", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "One of my favorite quotes about Thanksgiving comes from a celebrated Christian writer, William Arthur Ward, who once said, \u201cGratitude can transform common days into Thanksgiving...and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.\u201d\u00a0\nThanksgiving Day gives us a yearly reminder to count our God-given blessings.\u00a0 It\u2019s a time to focus on what we have, rather than on what we don\u2019t.\u00a0 President Lincoln exemplified this attitude of gratitude.\u00a0 He had countless reasons to be downtrodden and ungrateful.\u00a0 America was torn by civil war.\u00a0 Brothers were fighting brothers.\u00a0 And, the future of the great American experiment was in jeopardy.\u00a0 Yet, Lincoln was the first President to declare Thanksgiving Day a national holiday.\u00a0 He said in 1863, \u201cThe year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come\u2026the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.\u201d\u00a0 Lincoln spoke these words during one of the most difficult times in our young nation\u2019s history.\u00a0 Yet, he found reasons to be thankful.\u00a0\nToday, America faces different, but still difficult challenges.\u00a0 Too many middle class families are struggling to make ends meet.\u00a0 The future of our health care structure remains uncertain.\u00a0 Our immigration system is in desperate need of reform, and our national security continues to be threatened by terrorists who seek to destroy our way of life.\u00a0\u00a0 Yet, these challenges are mere obstacles. They present yet another opportunity to prove to the world that America will rise to meet our challenges and emerge even stronger than before.\u00a0\u00a0\nThe desire for freedom of religion and speech, the respect for the rule of law, and the belief that government should not intrude on the everyday lives of its citizens are the very ideas that brought the Pilgrims to this land.\u00a0 These principles are the key to bringing prosperity back to our great country.\nBecause of the profound foresight of our Founding Fathers, we have a system of government that protects these ideals.\u00a0 And, for that I am truly thankful.\u00a0 I am also thankful this Thanksgiving season for the opportunity to serve the people of Indiana\u2019s 6th Congressional District.\u00a0 You have placed a lot of trust in me, and I work every day to represent our shared Hoosier values here in Congress.\u00a0 I\u2019m grateful for my family.\u00a0\u00a0 My wife and children bring joy to my life every day.\u00a0 And, finally, I\u2019m thankful for our nation\u2019s challenges, because they provide us with an opportunity to grow and improve this great country and work every day to enhance the lives of its citizens.\u00a0 So, let\u2019s enjoy the holiday season with friends and family, and then get back to work to ensure this nation of ours remains great for this generation and the next.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206074526/http://messer.house.gov/media-center/editorials/transforming-common-days-into-days-of-thanksgiving"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.219889149069786, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}