As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026—the semiquincentennial marking a quarter-millennium since the Declaration of Independence—Americans are being called to a profound moment of national reflection, gratitude, and spiritual recommitment. On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the National Mall in Washington, D.C., will host Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving. This free, all-day gathering invites citizens from every background to

Gratitude is the best antidote for disquieting feelings of all kinds. Disturbing developments on the news can't upset you. Even personal challenges easier to bear when you are feeling grateful.

I’m looking forward to a delicious turkey dinner. When I think of the first settlers of this great land and all they endured to wrest a living for themselves and their families out of the land I am more than grateful. I am also amazed that we have it so easy. Every different part of this vast land had its own challenges, but I think of the heritage of my family—my great grandparents are buried in South Dakota—making a hard and often merciless land fruitful. The Dakotas were p