If you can think back to school days you might remember this very real Thanksgiving. The first one was held in December 1621 by Pilgrims during their second winter in America. They had plenty to be thankful for because their first winter saw 44 of the 102 original Pilgrims die, that’s 43%
These Pilgrims had sought religious freedom and opportunity in America. On this first Thanksgiving, they gave thanks to God for their new freedom, land, crops, and friendly Indians who added to the feast with wild turkeys and venison. They celebrated for 3 days with prayer, sermons, and songs of praise.
President Lincoln set the last Thursday of November in 1863 as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to God. Congress made it an official holiday in 1941.
Thanksgiving was devoted entirely to thanking God, their creator for their many blessings. Just think about it, those first few Americans lost nearly half their number but never lost faith. They prayed, thanked, and praised God for all their blessings. This was indeed a very real Thanksgiving.
God rewarded the settlers and their families many times over for their faith and soon, One Entire Nation Under God was created.
Do Not Be Ashamed
Many things have changed in America since those days but God has not changed. He is the same God now as he was then. He is always with me and he can always be with you.
My hope this Thanksgiving would be for all Americans to remember why we celebrate this day and not be ashamed to pray and give thanks to God, our creator.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give THANKS in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Amen! Happy Thanksgiving, Dennis.
Thank you. Back at you and your family!