More than four hundred years of thankfulness

More than four hundred years of thankfulness

Four hundred and three years ago, colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans shared their first meal of thanksgiving together at Plymouth Plantation. It was a celebration of the bountiful harvest which would give them enough food to survive the upcoming cold winter months.

Four centuries later, Thanksgiving has become a huge day for sports, the official start of the Christmas season, and the beginning of special sales and shopping sprees. Many have forgotten the true reason why that important meal was shared between friends and neighbors so many years ago – to give thanks and gratitude to God for His blessings.

This Thanksgiving holiday, let’s all turn down the television, stay home with friends and family, and show our gratitude and respect for our families, friends, and colleagues. Like the colonists and native Americans, we should share our bountiful harvest with those less fortunate. There are many opportunities to help those in need both during the holidays and throughout the year. Check out our bulletin and website for some ideas.

Finally, we should take time every day, not just on Thanksgiving, to give thanks for our own blessings. Let’s discourage and reverse ungrateful thoughts we may have, and encourage others to be thankful, too.

For historical information on our Thanksgiving holiday, go to https://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving.

Wishing you a blessed and thankful Thanksgiving!

Pastoral Care Director,