In November 1942, Norman Rockwell helped to reshape what we think of with Thanksgiving. His painting, “Freedom from Want” came out during a time when America was heavily involved in World War II. The Great Depression had recently ended and the imagery, a collection of friends and family around a large holiday turkey, epitomized what we think of during the holiday season.

Norman Rockwell was rightly regarded as one of the greatest artists of his time. He rose to fame during one of the most incredibly transformational time periods of American history. He portrayed the US not necessarily as it was, but the more idealized version of what he wished it would be.

Of Course, the Thanksgiving holiday is much older than the 1900s. The celebration traces back to an event in 1621 between Pilgrims and Native Americans.

In 1789, Geroge Washington signed the first Thanksgiving Proclamation for the newly formed country. And years later when the country was torn apart from the Civil War, Lincoln issued another Thanksgiving proclamation and created what we would now think of as the Thanksgiving Holiday.

I love Thanksgiving because as the name states, the point is for people to take time out of their lives and be thankful. Studies have shown that thankfulness and gratitude are correlated with better health both physically and mentally.¹  While it’s easy to become jaded about holidays and commercialism, take time out to express thankfulness; to God, to friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving.