The Goodness of Gratitude

As Americans, we trace our tradition of Thanksgiving Day all the way back 1621 when the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast. The most detailed description of the "First Thanksgiving" comes from Edward Winslow from A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, in 1621: Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help besides, served the company almost a week.

At which time, among other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed upon our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty. The Pilgrims had been blessed by God in surviving a devastating first year in the Americas.



They had settled in an untamed land, built homes and raised a bounty of crops for the winter. They also were at peace with the indigenous peoples. The Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians.

The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution (late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress. In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom.

By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.

As an educator and pastor I seek to keep aware of the culture of our time so as to speak God’s truth where it is needed most...

and frankly I am saddened by the culture of complaint and criticism we in the USA have become quite proud of and think we have the right to do! This poison of pessimism is corrupting our culture and creeping into the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This national right to complain that so many feel entitled to do flies in the face of clear Biblical instruction Sign up to get our free daily email of the biggest stories! Do everything without murmuring or questioning the providence of God, so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a morally crooked and spiritually perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights--beacons shining out clearly--in the world of darkness” (Philippians 2:14-15 AMP) In recent years scientific data has supported God’s word of truth concerning our need to have the attitude of gratitude. A growing body of research has tied an attitude of gratitude with a number of positive emotional and physical health benefits.

An article in a national newpaper summarized the research: Adults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not, according to studies conducted over the past decade. They're also less likely to be depressed, envious, greedy, or alcoholics. They earn more money, sleep more soundly, exercise more regularly, and have greater resistance to viral infections.

Now, researchers are finding that gratitude brings similar benefits in children and adolescents. [Studies also show that] kids who feel and act grateful tend to be less materialistic, get better grades, set higher goals, complain of fewer headaches and stomach aches, and feel more satisfied with their friends, families, and schools than those who don't. The researchers concluded, "A lot of these findings are things we learned in kindergarten, or our grandmothers told us, but now we have scientific evidence to prove them .

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The key is not to leave it on the Thanksgiving table." As we gather this Thanksgiving, may we all realized how blessed we are and be grateful to the One who grants us the very breath we breathe and who offers us forgiveness of sins and eternal life through His Son!.