Here in the United States the federally recognized holiday of Thanksgiving is today. The first known Thanksgiving can be traced back to the time of the pilgrims. They were ill-prepared to establish a colony in the New World. They suffered many hardships over the winter. About half of them died either because of the weather or disease. It was an agonizing, terrible time for them to survive. The American native Indian rescued them by teaching them how to fertilize crops, fish, hunt, and discover new foods. Without these gracious natives surely, the colony would’ve died out completely because of all that afflicted them.
Surviving the winter, then the spring and summer, the pilgrims were able to plant crops and grow as local people in the New World. That Fall they decided to have a banquet in recognition of their gratitude to the Almighty God for their survival. It is likely there were more Indians who attended the meal than what was left of the pilgrims. It is unlikely that the turkey was eaten even though for some reason it became connected with the giving of thanks. Benjamin Franklin later even suggested that the turkey be the national bird for the new colonies.
Our text in the book of Psalms says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statures.” The pilgrims were afflicted in so many ways by grief, loss, and a lack of education for how to survive. With the help of the American native Indian, they had to learn, grow, and apply what was offered them. In the same way, whether it be by cares for hardships or good times, we believers in Christ must do the same thing that our pilgrim forefathers found necessary. We must learn how to be Christians. We must gain an understanding of Scriptures. We must spiritually grow to have strength whereby we can survive in this materialistic world. Ours is a challenge to apply what God has offered so that we might learn his statues, his lessons, his guidance.
The first Thanksgiving lasted three days. There was harmony and kinship among the pilgrims and with the Native Americans. Hopefully we can learn from our own history to do the same. In the year 2025 our goal still should be harmony and kinship with all those living around us. With a little more than one month away before the new year, it would be wise of us to apply intellectual and spiritual knowledge to our way of life so that we may continue to learn and grow in the Lord. We are forever grateful for the Native Americans. We are forever grateful for this new world that they founded that became our home so many years later.
Unfortunately, the holiday of Thanksgiving has become a day in which we display how gluttonous we can be followed by watching on TV our favorite sports team. Too many people say they are grateful for the skills of their best-loved athlete. Let us refocus our giving of thanks to God for what he has given us day by day and year by year.
Christian Writer 