By Ben House
Sounds of laughter were heard at Plymouth Colony in the autumn of 1621. The Pilgrims who had arrived the year before had endured a hard winter, tilled the stubborn soil, and established a colony. As the leaves on the trees changed from green to red and brown, William Bradford called for a bountiful harvest. The settlers joined with their ally and friend, Indian chief Massiot and his tribe, and spent several days enjoying good eating and good times.
An American tradition was established in that small colony that endures today. Unfortunately, the emphasis on Thanksgiving has become the eating (or perhaps the overeating) and the watching of football games on TV. The Pilgrims were thankful for their friendship with the Indians, their survival, and their good harvests; whereas, many people will be thankful for a soft chair near the TV and an Alka-Seltzer. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a meal or watching TV, but it is wrong for these things to become most important to you on Thanksgiving.
Of course, everyday should be thankful for all the blessings we receive, but Thanksgiving is a time when we should reflect on all that we have endured and have received. Throughout the past year, each of us has had burdens, tragedies, pains, sorrows, and fears. But along with the rain, we have all had much sunshine.
The Pilgrims had little, besides faith. They were alone in a strange, largely unsettled land far away from their roots. Forests had to be cleared with axes, not chainsaws and bulldozers. Their crude cabins were heated by a fireplace; their water had to be carried. They had to travel on foot or in a rough wagon. We have all heard this before and we know, even though we cannot completely realize, that conditions in life have improved since the first Thanksgiving. They had more of one thing than we do, however. When they gathered together during the autumn of 1621, they were thankful that God had blessed them with food and fellowship; they gathered to acknowledge that all they had endured and all they had received was of God. Their religious conviction allowed them to enjoy themselves at the celebration.
The abundance of blessings we have is wonderful. Let us hope that we never waste or misuse all that we have. Let us never fail to give thanks for all we have endured. When we cease giving God the thanks for everything, we lose our greatest blessing.