  Just what are we celebrating when we have the
Thanksgiving holiday?
Is this just some old tradition from the past or is there an important reason that
families gather together to eat turkey, potatoes, pumpkin pie and all those other good things?  It all started back in November of 1621 when the pilgrims came
to America. The pilgrims were the people who came over from England to settle in the
new land, America. They decided to leave England mostly because they wanted the freedom
to worship God from their hearts and not the way the institutional church of England
prescribed them to and many were angry about the outrageous taxes they had to pay in
England. They celebrated with a three day feast to give thanks to God for the abundant
way He had provided for them. The pilgrims had set sail from Plymouth, England on
September 6, 1620 and for almost three months braved the seas. When they arrived
off the coast of Massachusetts in late November they had used up most of their supplies
and had to rely on God's provision to make it through the harsh New England weather.  A year later they were gathering in the harvest of wheat,
barley and corn from the land and fixing up their homes for the coming winter.
The Lord had blessed them with abundant fishing. He also sent plentiful amounts
of wild ducks and geese which were flying south for the winter and brought a great
many wild turkeys along with deer and many types of wild game. This allowed the
pilgrims to store up all they would need to get them through the winter.  The pilgrims were very religious and were determined to
honor God with their lives and He richly blessed them for their faithfulness.
They were so blessed they invited the local Indian tribe to the three day feast
and shared all they had been blessed with.  The first pilgrims considered themselves one big family so
they shared everything they had been blessed with so that no one would go without.
This tradition we call Thanksgiving has remained unto this day. When Thanksgiving comes this year, I would like you to
remember those 102 seafarers who left everything they knew and held dear
to get on a wooden ship and cross the wide sea to find an unexplored land,
where they could be free to worship God from their hearts relying on Him to
keep them safe and direct their paths. And, when He did just that He also
protected them and provided for them so they gave Him the thanks for all
things He had given them, then shared what they had so no one would go without.  We worship the same God today who protects us and furnishes
our needs just as He did for the first pilgrims. So when you and your family
gather around the tables don't forget who we give thanks to and remember this
is the reason we all live in a free country today, a country still blessed
with plenty. Yes, we have changed greatly over the years but it is still God
who directs our paths and it is still God who deserves our thanks on this day set aside to honor Him.  Return To:   |