04: The Woman Who Gave America Thanksgiving

In this inspiring and little-known story, Jody Colvard unpacks the remarkable legacy of Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman whose determination and vision gave America the Thanksgiving holiday we celebrate today.

Best known for writing “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Hale was far more than a children’s author. She spent 17 years campaigning for a national day of gratitude, believing it could help heal a fractured nation. Her powerful letter to President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 arrived at a pivotal moment, and became the spark that led to Thanksgiving being declared a national holiday during the Civil War.

A heartwarming exploration of gratitude, history, and the woman who believed one holiday could bring a nation back to itself.