Many, many years ago, a group of God-fearing English people landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts in the New World, in the year of 1620.
Grateful to God for His blessings of bringing them to America despite much death and sickness, a year later in 1621, the Pilgrims thanked Him with the abundance of the harvest they had. They set aside three days of praising God, remembering His goodness, and feasting with what He had provided them.
Even though this was the first year in their new home, they had a very good harvest, and gathering what they did have, also caught wild fish and game, including the now-famous Thanksgiving staple of turkey. Nearby Wampanoag Indians were welcomed, and they, too, added some viands to the meal.
But did you know about the third Thanksgiving which the Pilgrims made a day of prayer and thanksgiving, which would have been remembered as their first Thanksgiving and true holy day? It was in the summer of 1623, after a two-month-long deadly drought which was relieved by the miraculous fourteen-day rainfall after much supplication and humility before God. It was the day in which, according to Edward Winslow, the future governor of Plymouth Colony, “another Solemn Day was set apart … wherein we returned glory, honour, and praise, with all thankfulness to our good GOD.”
Let us call to mind the great blessings our good Lord has given us when we have fasted and bowed our hearts before Him in fervent pleading. Let us then not forget to offer up “the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing” (Ps. 107:22) and be grateful to Him for His merciful kindness and deliverances.
As you, dear reader, recall the many things to be grateful for in your life, do not forget to trust Him to deliver you from the present moment’s trials and grievances, as He always has in times past, and to “be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”, knowing that He will always see you through, and that each moment truly is a moment made for thanksgiving, for He has sent His Son to die for your sins, and your eternal life starts at the moment of your salvation – with Jesus Christ, for ever and ever, into eternity, where will be neither sorrow, nor evil, nor crying, nor pain.
-by Brieanna Savard
Happy Thanksgiving to you and the family.