Let’s give Thanks

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is the day when my extended family gather at our place in the “country” along the Alabama River for fellowship and feasting, but the most meaningful part of the day occurs before the blessing of the meal when my uncle calls on various family members, young and old alike, to state something that they’re thankful for. Now, this is often lighthearted with children blushing when called upon and responses that we all know as “go-to’s,” such as, “I’m thankful for my family,” but this simple act is what Thanksgiving is all about- Giving thanks.

In delving into the history of Thanksgiving, I’ve found that it’s origin is somewhat controversial. We learn that the first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 as the pilgrims celebrated the fruit of their harvest after a very difficult first year as settlers of Plymouth Plantation in modern day Massachusetts. We think of Indians and pilgrims sharing a banquet table in a grand feast. Many people claim that the story of pilgrims and Native Americans coming together is entirely fictitious. However, there are first-hand accounts, one from Plymouth governor William Bradford, of a hunt where Indians and pilgrims both brought back the bounty in 1621, though there is no mention of them sharing the meal together. So, instead of getting bummed that the notion of pilgrims cordially inviting Indians over for a Thanksgiving feast isn’t veritable history, I want to, instead, focus on the positive lessons to be gleaned from accounts of the celebrated day from centuries past.

One testimony of that first harvest feast in the New World is found in Mourt’s Relation, a journal of the pilgrims in Plymouth written by settler Edward Winslow. After recounting the specifics of the great hunt and the bountiful meal that followed, Winslow states,  “And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”The attitude and perseverance of the above statement is extraordinary. In that same year, Edward Winslow along with the rest of the surviving pilgrims, had endured the tragedy of losing 49 of their friends and family. Yet and still, Winslow rejoices! Though the odds were stacked against them and the misfortunes from that year certainly outweighed the good, the pilgrims were able to express heartfelt gratitude.How often do we miss the opportunity to give thanks because we can’t tear our focus away from the trials?

Much of the pilgrims’ saving grace was due to Squanto, a Native American of the Patuxet tribe. Squanto had been taken from his home by English explorers years before the pilgrims arrived and had learned the English language. When Squanto returned to the region, before the arrival of the pilgrims, he found that his entire tribe had died from smallpox which they had no immunity to, so he went to live with the Wampanoag tribe. Then, when the pilgrims settled in Plymouth, he, acting as interpreter on behalf of the Wampanoag chief, Massasoit, taught them the Native American ways of planting corn and fishing techniques so they could learn to survive. This man who had been taken from his family as a slave and came back to find that his tribe had all died from “white man’s disease,” found forgiveness in his heart to not hold all Englishmen responsible for this offense, and even to save these Englishmen from certain despair. How often to we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts making giving thanks in unity impossible?Now fast-forward a couple hundred years to 1863 when our nation was in the midst of Civil War. Up until that time, Thanksgiving was mostly celebrated only in New England and though it had been declared a national holiday by George Washington, it was not an official proclamation for the entire country. President Abraham Lincoln saw the value of establishing such a day especially in the midst of great disunity in America. People needed to be reminded of the good and the best way to do this is to express gratitude. In the official proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, he begins by remarking on evidence that though the country was war-torn and had experienced great losses on the battlefield, remarkably there was still promise for a bright future since peace with other nations had been preserved, order had been maintained, wealth had grown, and population steadily increased. He then gave credit where credit was due:

“No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People… And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”

This is a man who carried the weight of the well-being of America on his shoulders yet was able to put aside pride and humbly recognize need while maintaining a greater focus on blessings and the importance of coming together to give thanks for them.

Let us, now, in this time where we find much divisiveness in our country, be drawn together through giving thanks; recognizing the many blessings and our gracious God who has bestowed them on us.