Thursday, November 10, 2016

Thanksgiving - A Great Heritage

With Thanksgiving only two weeks away, I am thinking about this holiday.  It is a time of reflecting upon the past and a great reminder that God is faithful.  The simple things are brought to mind and everything else fades into insignificance.

The meals and the memories of family and friends helps us to forget about ourselves and to have the spirit of love, joy and thankfulness for all that we do have.

This is a holiday that reminds us that almost 400 years ago, 102 passengers sailed from Plymouth, England and were traveling to Virginia to begin a new life.  Some of the passengers were escaping the jurisdiction of the Church of England and some were entrepreneurs that wanted a new beginning.

The 90 foot Mayflower was headed to Virginia, but due to stormy weather and navigation errors, the Mayflower was forced off course.  On November 21, 1620, the Pilgrims reached Massachusetts where they founded the first permanent European settlement.

Thanksgiving should remind us of our great heritage and when and how this country came about for a group of people who wanted to begin new and to have freedom to live their lives.

As we prepare for that great meal, remember to thank God for His mercy, His abundance, His protection and His love for those that took that leap of faith to begin a new life.

Don't wait until Thanksgiving Day to let others know how thankful you are for them.  Begin today and tell someone daily what they mean to you.  That is what Thanksgiving is all about!

1 comment:

Rick Watson said...

Our Thanksgiving Day celebration changed after our parents died. We still celebrate but they are more subdued.