While most of us associate Thanksgiving Day with a table laden with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie, it’s meaning goes much deeper than that for Americans. (I don’t know about you, but sometimes I forgetThanksgiving Day isn’t an International holiday!) A Time Magazine website says:

Much is unknown about the first recorded feast between the Pilgrims and Native Americans in the New World at Plymouth in 1621, as historians have heavily relied on only two primary eyewitness accounts. But while a good meal is a constant, it’s clear that the original festival doesn’t have all that much in common with the all-American holiday recognized today, with its focus on football and, more recently, shopping.

 So if the present all-American holiday doesn’t capture the essence of that first Thanksgiving, what were the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrating? Research shows that the Wampanoag Indians who attended the first Thanksgiving were key to the survival of the colonists during the first year the Pilgrims arrived and the celebration took place after the Pilgrims successfully harvested their first crops in autumn 1621. So on that first Thanksgiving, I believe our ancestors were celebrating survival with those who helped them survive. Although forty five of the 102 immigrants who had come to Plymouth died during the first winter, thanks to the help of the Native Americans, the others survived.

Most of us have lives so far removed from the hardships of our forefathers that our mindset tends much more toward celebrating abundance than celebrating survival. Mere “survival” might be seen as failure on our part or even as an indication that God has let us down. Maybe we pride ourselves on “gutting it out” during tough times, but see no occasion for giving thanks. This is an attitude far from that of our ancestors or the prophet Habakkuk.

 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

 Wow! Compared to Habakkuk, I’m afraid I’m a failure at giving thanks in less than ideal circumstances. The Apostle Paul says, , “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18) In other words, give thanks even though we barely survived, even though life has been difficult, even though ________________. If we are believers in Jesus, we have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and that He will work all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We still have reason to give thanks regardless of our circumstances.

Many years ago Donn and I wrote a song that came to mind this morning as I thought about this theme. This is the chorus.

Thank you for the flowers and thank you for the rain.

Thank you for the sunshine and thank you for the pain.

Thank you for the birds on wing and thank you for the times we sing.

Thank you, Lord, we love you, Lord,

Thanks for everything.

November 23, 2021  I had no idea when I wrote this blog five years ago, how fitting it would be for Thanksgiving, 2021, no idea how I would fill in the blank in this sentence: “In other words, give thanks even though we barely survived, even though life has been difficult, even though ________________ (our son died in July).” And so I speak the words to myself that I wrote five years ago:

If we are believers in Jesus, we have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and that He will work all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We still have reason to give thanks regardless of our circumstances.

And with tears flowing down my cheeks, in this Thanksgiving season, I choose to “Rejoice in the Lord,” … and I choose to “take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:18)