The Pilgrims
““Thou shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you.””
While other countries also observe a day or season of thanksgiving, we in the United States trace our observance to the Pilgrims. One hundred and two people, forty-one "Saints" and sixty-one "Strangers," set sail on the Mayflower. They landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts on December 11, 1620.
Without the aid of the neighboring Native Americans, the settlers would not have survived. As it was, the bitter winter and inadequate food led to the deaths of forty-seven persons, almost half of the original number.
The first harvest in the fall of 1621 was not large but was presumed to be enough for survival. Governor Bradford declared a period of thanksgiving which lasted three days. Games and feasting were enjoyed by the Pilgrims and their Native American friends.
The people of Israel had also come from the wilderness into a new land, one which promised abundance and safety. The writer of Deuteronomy reminds them that everything they are enjoying is a result of God's providence and care. Times of hardship teach the lesson of dependence on God's goodness.
There is also a warning here. When we enjoy the fruits of success, we must not forget the source of our blessings.
For Reflection: What lesson can I learn from the example of the Pilgrims?
A Prayer Seed:
O God, beneath Thy guiding hand
Our exiled fathers crossed the sea;
And when they trod the wintry strand,
With prayer and psalm they worshipped Thee.
Leonard Bacon, 1838
