Beyond mashed potatoes

This week at Theology Pub
we discussed Thanksgiving from various angles. I found it an
interesting topic because giving thanks — and gratitude in general — is
certainly not unique to people of faith. Apparently, the religious
origins of the first Thanksgiving(s) are debatable, but in later years Thanksgiving certainly took a more religious tint. Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation
calling for Thanksgiving to be celebrated by all states on the same day
(as opposed to previous practice) is filled with religious overtones.

I’m struck that giving thanks, as a concept, is perfectly well and
good (it’s what our mother taught us, after all) but complications come
with the follow-up questions, the second part of the sentence, the: so
what?

Giving thanks….to whom?