When people think of Thanksgiving, what images come to mind?

Family, friends, an extra couple days of vacation, a big turkey dinner, pumpkin pie, football games, the beginning of the Christmas holiday season — the list is endless.

But what about the real reason for Thanksgiving? What about the act of giving thanks or a prayer expressing gratitude?

After all, that’s how Thanksgiving Day began in this country back in 1621. The Pilgrims had just completed their first year in North America, and the fall harvest was bountiful. As the story goes, there was plenty of corn, fruits, vegetables, fish packed in ...