OUR gratitude attitude
Today we celebrate Thanksgiving Day
in the USA. As a former history teacher
and permanent history buff, I thought it fitting to reprise the history of this
important day in the American culture.
The
event that we commonly call ‘The First Thanksgiving’ was celebrated by the Pilgrims following their first American harvest
in the year 1621. According to one of
the attendees, Edward Winslow, this feast lasted three full days, and was
attended by 53 Pilgrims and 91 Native Americans.
The
Pilgrims had departed from Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620, seeking
civil and religious liberty in what they deemed to be ‘The New World.’ Obviously, the land was already occupied by
Native Americans.
For two months, 102 passengers on
The Mayflower braved the harsh elements of the northern Atlantic Ocean. Arriving in late November at the place they named
Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, the Pilgrims signed “The Mayflower Compact” (America’s first document
of civil government)
and disembarked the ship in early December.
After a prayer service, the Pilgrims began
building hasty shelters. However, they
were grossly unprepared for the starvation and sickness
that would beset them during the harsh New England winter. As a result, nearly half of their numbers died before the advent of
spring. Nevertheless, persevering
in prayer,
and assisted by very helpful Native Americans, they reaped a bountiful harvest the following summer.
The grateful Pilgrims declared
a three-day feast, starting on December 13, 1621,
to give thanks to God and
to celebrate with their native friends. Technically
speaking, this was not the first Thanksgiving in America, since Thanksgiving Services
were held in Virginia as early as 1607, but it was America’s first Thanksgiving
Festival.
Pilgrim Edward Winslow described the
Pilgrims’ inaugural Thanksgiving with these words: “Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor
sent four men fowling [bird hunting] so that we might rejoice together
after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. These four killed in one day as much fowl as served
the company almost a week. Many of the
Indians [came] amongst us, including their King Massasoit and ninety men, whom
for three days we entertained and feasted; and they went out and killed five
deer, which they brought to us. Although
it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the
goodness of God we are far from want.”
In 1789, following a proclamation
issued by President George Washington, the fledgling American nation celebrated
its first official Day of Thanksgiving to God under
its new constitution. And the Protestant
Episcopal Church, of which President Washington was a member, announced that
the first Thursday in November would become a regular day for the giving of thanks.
My friends, that is THE HISTORY of
Thanksgiving Day. What is YOUR STORY for
giving thanks to our God?
Roy Campanella had an amazing story
of thanksgiving.
He was one of the first
African-Americans to play in baseball’s major leagues. In his storied athletic career, Roy won the
Brooklyn Dodgers’ “Most Valuable Player Award” numerous times, and in 1955 made
a very significant contribution toward his team’s victory in the World Series.
However, in January of 1958, his
career was tragically cut short when a car crash left him a quadriplegic. After he was injured, Roy spent a lot of time
in The Institute of Physical medicine and Rehabilitation in New York. One day he paused to read an inspirational
inscription in the entryway. For someone
who had been blessed with phenomenal athletic gifts, but was now a
quadriplegic, these words resonated deeply:
I
asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I
was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey…
I
asked for health that I might do great things.
I
was given infirmity that might do better things…
I
asked for riches that I might be happy,
I
was given poverty that I might be wise…
I
asked for power, that I might have the praise of others.
I
was given weakness that I might feel the need of God…
I
asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I
was given life that I might enjoy all things…
I
got nothing I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost
despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I
am, among men, most richly blessed!
Let us all be sincerely appreciative
to Almighty God on this Thanksgiving Day – and every day – for the abundant bounty,
benefits and blessings rendered daily toward us. Our gratitude
ATTITUDE is not predicated on our present circumstances, or on our station
in life, or on what we have accumulated, or on what we have achieved. It is merely the heartfelt recognition that
“every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there
is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
Wherever you are in this life,
however you are in this life, please take advantage of this golden opportunity
to praise and worship HIM. In the wise words
of the Apostle Paul, “In everything GIVE THANKS; for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18)
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