Thanksgiving

     I'm certain we have an idyllic image of the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 brought about by paintings such as the one above.  We should know the subsequent tempestuous history of European immigrants and the native American Indians.  But I do hope that there was a time, however brief ,when the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Tribe sat down to feast and be grateful in peace.

     We in this country truly have reason to be grateful on this day.  This should be a day we pray with gratitude to God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us over the year...the bountiful harvest.  We may be suffering through a family member with cancer, loss of job, loss of a loved one, or some other great upheaval, but, if we can find the blessings hidden underneath those circumstances, we have accomplished what God desires...spiritual joy amongst great trial and tribulation. 

     May the day bring a discovery of peace and gratitude to God.  The Pilgrims had nearly starved to death that first year on this continent.  Yet they took time to give thanks to God for giving them aid through the very people they were taking their land from.  Yes, eventually, the human greed factor came into play over the land, but, for one day,  The human race was doing something pleasing in the eyes of God.