A Man of Thanksgiving

I exhort … giving of thanks, be made for all men. —1 Timothy 2:1

In the early 1800’s Jack and Hannah Armstrong befriended a young man and welcomed him into their home when he was without work. They fed him, and Hannah mended his clothes and treated him like a son. This man was very grateful, but had nothing to repay the Armstrong’s for their kindness.

This young man later became a lawyer in Illinois. Hannah Armstrong was widowed. Later, her own son William was falsely accused of murder. She wrote to that young lawyer in Illinois for help. He came and successfully defended her son in court. When she tried to pay him for his services, he would not take a penny. He said, “Aunt Hannah, I shall never take a cent of your money for all your kindness to me years ago.”

That young lawyer later became President of the United States— Abraham Lincoln — A man of thanksgiving.

Are you a man or woman of thanksgiving?  Is there someone you need to say “Thank you” to?