Giving Thanks

Here it is November, already! I’m still curious as to what has happened to this year. Time seems to be slipping by ever so quickly or is it that as we get older time just flies by?

Each year at this time I reflect on that first Thanksgiving of 1621 we have all read about. But the part of this story that I find intriguing are the events leading up to that first thanksgiving.

The story begins with two religious groups of people in England . One group known as the “Separatists” because they wanted to effect change within the church while doing it from outside of the church. The other group was the “Puritans” whose goal was to effect change within the church while remaining inside the church.

The Separatists were adamant about their position and so much to the point that they became a people that were persecuted for their belief system. They were so persecuted that they decided to leave England and settled in Holland . The Dutch people welcomed the people from England and invited them into their country. After about eight years the settlers from England began to feel they needed to relocate to the new land they had heard about across the ocean.

The reason for leaving Holland was because the Separatists were concerned they were loosing grasp of their English roots.

They located a ship called the Speedwell. The captain gladly booked their passage and promised they would be enroute to the new land they had heard of. The English Separatists were elated with the promise of establishing their new found roots where they could worship God as they chose without the confines of the Church of England dictating what they could or could not do.

The separatists boarded the Speedwell and, after a few days at sea, they put into a harbor that appeared very familiar. It was ENGLAND ! They didn’t want to go to England as they were wanted people. The captain of the Speedwell had hoodwinked them. What to do?

They scurried around the harbor making inquiries of the sea captains and found one ship that would take them to the new land across the ocean. They agreed on the fare and boarded the MAYFLOWER.

For the next several days these deeply dedicated, Godly people made the journey to the new land. When they arrived at Plymouth Rock there was such an emotion of peace, joy and also the stress of the unknowing. What would be in their immediate future? Only God knew, but they trusted in a God of miracles. After all, He had made provision for them over the past few years of their persecution and they knew he would take care of them in this new found land.

Their first year was a time of discovery for the new settlers, these people of faith who made it clear to the organized Church of England, “Keep your creeds and dogmas, but give us the Word of God.”

It was during this time that they met Squanto, a native of this new land, who befriended the new settlers and taught them how to plant and hunt for their food.

At the end of the growing season they were taught how to harvest their crops and then they decided to gather for what we all have come to know in this country as THANKSGIVING. They gathered and gave thanks to God for the bountifulness of his blessings and they reflected on their journey to this new land. It wasn’t long until they were joined by the Puritans.

The history of Thanksgiving is a wonderful one and I am reminded of a passage in the New Testament of the Holy Bible, 1Th 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

As we gather with friends and family this Thanksgiving be sure to remember our roots from the story about the Pilgrim Fathers. Be thankful for God’s Grace in your life and enjoy this wonderful holiday together. This has been a most difficult year for many of us just as it was difficult for the Pilgrim settlers of 1620.

Look up, move forward. God really does love and care for you.

Here’s a Litany you may want to use at your family gathering this year.

Leader: Why have you come to this place?

People: We are here to give thanks.

L: What reasons do you have to be thankful?

P: We are thankful for the gift of love, the love of God, our family and our friends; a love which brings us comfort when we feel alone in this impersonal world.

L: Is love all that you have for which to be thankful?

P: Each day we receive many blessings, but it is love which makes them possible and meaningful.

L: To who do you give thanks for your blessings?

P: We are thankful to God. We want always to have an attitude of gratefulness, so that our lives may be filled with abundant grace.