Thursday, we celebrate our National Holiday of Thanksgiving. Those who know their history know that 1621 is attributed as the first Thanksgiving when a group of 101 Puritans traveled to the Americas on the Mayflower. What you may not know is that when they arrived, it was December, and nearly half the pilgrims died of exposure and disease.
You may also not know that over ten years earlier, another group of pilgrims suffered a harsh winter. During the winter of 1610, only 60 out of 490 Jamestown pilgrims survived.
What both of these groups had in common was not just their suffering and loss of life but also their thankfulness to God. Both these groups held a prayer meeting of Thanksgiving to God for His provision. Those at Plymouth gave thanks for the plentiful crops and the help of Wampanoag Indians. Those in Virginia gave thanks for an unexpected boat that arrived, bringing supplies.
It is both amazing and humbling to know that the pilgrims, even after the losses suffered, gave thanks to God for His provision. It is even more humbling when you think of how much we have today and yet are prone to complain about the smallest inconveniences. There is something greatly missing today, something that our forefathers did not miss: “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure and turmoil with it. Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred with it” – Proverbs 15:16-17.
If the pilgrims gave thanks for the little they had, we certainly should be the most thankful of all people. I hope that you will give thanks to the Lord this Thanksgiving. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” – Psalm 107:1. Join us this Wednesday evening at 7 PM for our annual Thanksgiving Praise Service. Find out more at taylorcreekchurch.org.
