And a Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I’m not really sure how to say this, but I need to. Bear with me here; it gets complicated and there will be some rabbit chasing but hopefully the point will be made and the thoughts of a crazy man will be made clear to the reader. No promises though!

First, what is Thanksgiving? Each person has a different definition, and each one is correct to the individual. But what IS Thanksgiving? Speaking in generic terms, it will involve things like family, traveling, lots of food, football and here of late, Santa and some really big spending. But, like all things, they tend to grow and morph into things that didn’t necessarily have much to do with the origin of the day.

We all know the story of the first Thanksgiving, a day set aside by the original settlers from Europe, to give thanks to God for His provision and getting them through a rough start. Inviting new friends of Native American persuasion to join in and the party was one for the ages! See, we still speak of it today, can you name a party you have thrown or even attended that will be remembered in 400 years? I didn’t think so.

So we have this epic celebration of life and of giving thanks for making through the first winter and an abundant harvest when about half of your friends and family are taking permanent naps with dirt on their faces. Lucky you! Your number didn’t come up and you may add another birthday to your resume’. But there are many more winters to get through and lot’s of danger outside the safety of the ship.

Now, remember, that they were supposed to land in Virginia, but bad weather sent them further north. Self governance was established before they left the Mayflower and one of the things that set them apart was the issuance of land grants by the acting governor. You planted and harvested your own crops so if you chose to fiddle about, you were going to be hungry come winter. Not to say they didn’t help one another out, but there was no communal arrangement for the collective good. They probably would not have made it had it not been for the Native Americans. These kind souls taught them how to plant, harvest, hunt, and fish along with basic survival skils.

If you make it, you had a lot to be thankful for! And they did celebrate every year. Each colony did their own thing whenever it struck them, Abraham Lincoln fixed this around 1863 and made it an official holiday on the same day nationwide.

I love this day! I am a truly blessed man. And although the blessings in life are always with me, celebrating them on this one special day is something that I take seriously because I have known want. It’s not pleasant and for numerous reasons, don’t care to feel its cold embrace again. So, I eat too much, talk too loud and probably should stay away from the liquor cabinet but it is a celebration, so celebrate I shall!

Happy Thanksgiving my friends! May we all be mindful of the blessings of God in our own day to day living! Enjoy life today and everyday!