Giving Thanks

A few months ago, a dear friend from Tennessee and sister in Christ, Betty Newman , mentioned a book she had read many years ago and was re-reading: The Light and the Glory. She gave such shining praise of the book, a Christian history of America from 1492-1793, that I decided I needed to read it. I am so glad I did! I learned things I never learned in school, but things I wish I had know all along -- mostly about the Christian commitment of those who first came to America and struggled to make a life here to the glory of God. Christ was undeniably the center of their lives. They relied upon Him for every aspect of life and for life itself.
 
With Thanksgiving around the corner, I wanted to share with you what I learned about the first two Thanksgiving dinners celebrated in America. The Light and the Glory takes us into the hearts of those first settlers and shows how their Christian beliefs affected their lives and the history of the United States of America.

Plymouth colony was founded in December, 1620 by about 100 Puritan Separatist Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower. The first winter, as they struggled to build their settlement, over one half of them died from disease and exposure to the harsh winter weather. By October 1621, only 53 pilgrims were alive to celebrate the first Thanksgiving which they shared with the Indians from the Wampanoag tribe who had befriended them and helped immeasurably in teaching them how to fend for themselves in the new land. The survivors were filled with gratitude to God knowing that, in spite of all their loss and suffering, He had provided for and sustained them.
 
About a month after their Thanksgiving celebration,  a ship from England arrived in Plymouth harbor carrying 35 more colonists but, unfortunately, no provisions or equipment. The extra mouths to feed would put a huge strain on food supplies over the winter. In fact, with the extra people to feed, rations were ultimately reduced to just five kernels of corn a day per person. The authors of The Light and the Glory wrote, “It is almost inconceivable that life could be supported on this [five kernels of corn a day]. And as always, [the Pilgrims] had a choice: either to give in to bitterness and despair or go deeper into Christ. They chose Christ. And incredibly,….not one of them died of starvation.” They made it through to spring and summer when they could plant vegetables, go fishing, and hunt for game.
 
By April, 1623, the Pilgrims were well settled into their homes in Plymouth colony and the decision had been made to have an additional planting of corn over the summer to make sure they would not again experience the hunger of the past two winters. They were enjoying the comforts of home and were eager to work to provide a surplus for their needs. God had seen them through two winters and now they would make sure they had enough for the third. But a dry spell began as the first crop of corn began to mature and it turned into a severe drought by the second planting. Deeply distressed, the Pilgrims examined their hearts and humbled themselves, turning to God with fasting and prayer.  They turned from their desire for self-sufficiency and put their total trust and reliance upon God -- and He sent plentiful rain.
 
That fall there was so much corn, they even had enough to trade with the Indians. A second day of Thanksgiving was planned, and on that day the first course served was an empty plate with just five kernels of corn for each person. The Pilgrims remembered from where they had fallen and had repented (Revelation 2:5), and God had abundantly blessed them.
 
Perhaps this year we should begin our Thanksgiving celebrations with an empty plate containing just five kernels of corn; not just in remembering the hardships and humility of the Pilgrims, but to turn our hearts to God, as theirs were, in pure trust, obedience, and gratitude.
 
In reading The Light and the Glory, I came to see how far I have fallen and how far my country has fallen from the faith and commitment of the Pilgrims. God was the center of their lives and they were not embarrassed, too proud, or too greedy to humble themselves and remove all things in their lives that were keeping them from the best God had for them. He was the center of their lives and the center of their government.

Perhaps it is time for us to take a look at the place from which we, and our society, have fallen so we can humbly repent and give God pleasure to work miracles in our lives and in our land.
 
My heart aches for my country. We seem to be encouraging ourselves in self-centeredness, greed,  complaints, immorality, and our lack of love for God and our fellow man. Someone has told me that my strong feelings are just a reflection of my growing older (smile). If that is so, then I am glad to be growing older.  Will you bow the knee with me this Thanksgiving Day? Will you thank God from your heart for all the blessings He has bestowed on you and on your country? And will you pray with me that we may remember and return to our Creator and Savior who is the source of every blessing?
 
May He receive our prayer and give us pure hearts to love Him and honor Him above all else. May He grant us a miracle and heal our land.
Amen.
 
~Suzie
 The Light and the Glory was written by Peter Marshall and David Manuel
And check out Betty Newman's blog at Prayerlogue.wordpress.com
 
 
 
 

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