The First Thanksgiving: a Celebration of Gratitude not Gluttony

When I woke up Sunday morning, a girlfriend texted in sheer gratefulness to God for having been able to see her kids the day before. It struck me how her gratitude was borne out of a terrible struggle and time of sorrow.

You see, in recent months her three kids had been taken from her after an alcoholic husband lied to police, DSS and school systems failed, and attorneys gouged her for thousands of dollars and did nothing. Everything and everyone in her world had come crashing down, spinning out of control, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.

But all she can talk about is how wonderful it is to see her kids again. She is filled with tears and joy. Her praise despite the troubles is a sweet sacrifice to God. And He isn’t finished yet.

Similarly, when the Pilgrims landed and stepped foot into snow and ice on that first November, they faced many hardships. No stores, no hospitals, no shelters. Half of the crew and family members did not survive. Only 52 of them were left to “begin a new life” after battling the bitter cold, scurvy, pneumonia, and TB. A mere 30 adults and 22 kids made it that first year. 

So they worked and struggled and planted and built until they began to see some harvest. That first Thanksgiving was not a time of gluttony but a celebration of true gratitude. Though many loved ones gave their lives in the effort to establish a free society, they stopped to establish a day to show thankfulness.

We need to stop rushing through life without acknowledging that everything we have is an undeserved gift. Life is not our own. When we came into this world and when we leave it is not our choice, not under our control. Life is a gift.

Watching the people who gave testimonies about the Paris attacks, they were filled with gratitude. Not a sense of entitlement, nor vindictive. They all expressed gratitude for having come through a terrible time. We know it’s true. Our trials and the things that stretch us are the very things that teach us patience, compassion for others, and genuine gratitude for what we have. 

Because of that fact, we can thank God despite trials and losses. I’m talking about an attitude of gratitude and how it changes us. As Meade wrote, “I never met a grateful person that was unhappy.”

This note was found taped to my son's office door. I told him it looks exactly like something he would have written when he was a child. Even the handwriting is similar! It's never a bad time to find a note of gratitude, is it. We welcome a word of thanks as a sweet fragrance. And so does God.

Dear God, thank you for all that we have. For our family who are with us today, and for the ones we have loved who are no longer with us. Thank you for your mercy to us all. Teach us to appreciate all your gifts, and bring us closer to your heart of compassion for others rather than the temporary things of this world. 

Amen.