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After the winter of 1620 killed approximately one half of the pilgrims who lived in and around Plymouth, Mass., the surviving colonist formed a relationship with the neighboring Wampanoag Tribe of Native American Indians, who taught them how to survive by fishing, planting and hunting. By the autumn of 1621 the Pilgrims had collected and preserved enough food to last them through the next winter.
In the fall of 1621 Governor William Bradford declared a time of Thanksgiving. The Indians and the Pilgrims joined together for a 3 day celebration in honor of their bountiful harvest. The Wampanoag’s supplied the venison while the colonist provided wild birds, most likely including roast turkey, goose and swan, along with corn and lobster for the feast.
This is considered to have been the first thanksgiving in America. Year after year many other colonies concluded the harvest season with a festival in celebration and thanksgiving to God for His bountiful supply.
It was in 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, that the Continental Congress issued a proclamation that all 13 of America’s colonies set aside a day of thanksgiving in celebration of their recent victory over the British at Saratoga. In 1789 George Washington declared the first national day of Thanksgiving.
By the mid 19th century many states celebrated an annual day of thanksgiving but the dates varied by weeks or months. With the threat of civil war bearing down upon our nation’s people, a young lady named Sarah J. Hale set about on a one woman letter writing campaign, urging politicians to establish an annual national day of thanksgiving which she passionately believed would help unite our great nation.
Hale’s efforts were finally rewarded by Abraham Lincoln. In 1863 President Lincoln signed a proclamation declaring the last Thursday of November as our nation’s annual Thanksgiving Day. The rest is history … as will be the approximate 675 million pounds of turkey which will be consumed on Thanksgiving Day this year in the US, tomorrow.
Well, where does God fit into all of this? To whom do we imagine those pilgrims, the 13 colonies, George Washington, Sarah Hale, President Lincoln or Americans tomorrow are giving their thanks to? Of course … it is to our Heavenly Father, the One True and Living God who gives us the harvest in its season.
Thanksgiving Day, however, is not an American phenomenon, nor were our politicians the first to declare such a celebration. We read from historical accounts that people have been joining together to thank God for His blessings on their harvest for thousands of years before Mayflower ever set sail toward the Americas. Returning thanks has been both an honor and a duty ever since mankind was created and placed in the Garden of Eden by the hand of God.
The Word of God instructs us to be thankful, not only for the evident blessings we enjoy, but for everything in life. Let’s read:
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I am not suggesting that everything which happens to a person is the will of God … that is not what this scripture indicates. However, the Word admonishes us herein that it is the will of God that we give thanks to God in the midst of everything that happens. We can be thankful that we have such a loving and caring God who, in the greatest moments of our grief and loss, will never leave us nor forsake us, but He will bring us through.
The life of a believer is not the easiest life, in fact many times I suppose it to be the hardest of all lives. Certainly we are rewarded and have the help and comfort of the Holy Spirit, our faith, and the hope of eternal life … however – we must often deny ourselves the luxury unbelievers might enjoy as they seem free to hate, not forgive, be bitter, resentful, blame God or refuse to be comforted.
Even though the life of a believer demands we reign in our emotions and curb our angers, I still chose to believe and to be thankful. I have seen the life without thanksgiving towards God and I would not trade one for the other. My bitter moments are sweeter than the sweetest life without the hope of Christ.
However, thanksgiving is but one of the believer’s duties. Let’s look at this scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5 in context – going back to verse 16:
1 Thessalonians 5
16 ¶ Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
As we in America spend time with our families tomorrow, and those in other parts of the world remember the Apostle Paul’s admonitions from 1 Thessalonians 5, let us harness ourselves to be truly thankful. Thankful for what God has blessed us with and thankful that we have such a loving Father.
Let us pray!
