While we are busy Thanksgiving morning preparing turkeys, stuffing, pumpkin pie and all the fixings- lets not forget why we have such a holiday called “Thanksgiving”.
“Thanksgiving” as a holiday didn’t just happen because Pilgrims came to America. This holiday has a lengthy history itself. As for America, I think the holiday basically is rooted in that big feast after a welcomed hearty harvest for the new “Americans”- the Pilgrims- in 1621 the year after they arrived in Massachusetts. That first winter of 1620 for them left about half of them dead. Within months they made friends with Indians who taught them how to successfully plant the ground in their new homeland, America. Come harvest 1621, they had much to be thankful for.
In 1789 George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation acknowledging God’s hand in the affairs of man… “Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor – and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” Click here to read the rest of this proclamation.
Indeed we are blessed and have much to be thankful for.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18
Happy Thanksgiving from the Zdelars!
