DO YOU ever wonder about the very first thanksgiving that was experienced by the pilgrims and their new best friends, the Indians? I know what I have read in history books! I am aware of how the new thinkers are wanting to change history to suit themselves! However, the very first thanksgiving had to be full of many firsts. The first large gathering of people full of excitement because of their great crops that year. The first gathering of foreigners on this new land and those who felt this land was theirs alone. The first time these people came together in unity and began to share in thanking God. Wow! Not to mention the first, of eating new kinds of food! Perhaps popcorn; or so I’ve heard!
I WAS almost 24 when Jim and I married in January. As the year moved on we began to approach our first thanksgiving as a married couple. My family gatherings were always large because there were so many. We had just moved into our first home and I was going to be making my first pies! Growing up I baked cakes, Joyce did pies.....I was excited and Clarence, my brother-in-law, was giving me pointers and even came out to taste my crust. I even made a cris-cross crust on top of one. Clancy took a bite of the crust and then another small one. He looked up and said; “Add a little butter and this dough would make tasty biscuits.” My spirits were not daunted, because these were my very first and they looked good.
WE LEFT for church as was our custom on Thanksgiving Day, and then on to celebrate at my sister’s home. Later that night as we returned home, Jim and I noticed that all the lights were on and the front door was standing wide open. Our new puppy, Frosty, was sitting behind the screen door whimpering. We wondered who was in our house? We approached the door cautiously. We could hear the TV, and entered even more cautiously. No one was there! Our back door was badly scratched from Frosty’s trying to get out to do her business. Evidence that she couldn’t wait was apparent on the carpet by the front door. Obviously, with all the excitement of the morning surrounding ‘pies’, we forgot to secure our home and care for our baby. Some of the air in our bubble began to leak as we tried to put things back in order. How could we have done that? How could we have neglected our new home and baby in such a manner? When it is all about me, can I so easily get careless?
EXCITEMENT does that to a person! Are you excited when Sunday morning comes? When the church family is planning their big thanksgiving dinner, are you excited? Do you get excited when you know that the church doors will be open? Through the years I have known many who were always there because they didn’t want to miss out on anything either. We still do! One of my most favorite things was to go to the Thanksgiving program at church on Thanksgiving day. But I’ve learned to check the house before I leave!
DAVID’S heart was full of thanksgiving! “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and declare all Thy wonders!" Psalms 26:7 “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with singing. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods!” Psalms 95:2-3 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name for the Lord is good; His loving kindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness is to all generations.” Psalms 100:4-5
THE EARLY pilgrims suffered many hardships when they entered the domain of the Indians. Many Conflicts arose among the good and the bad! Those who sought peace were able to find it with those who were also seeking peace. Even today we become anxious and experience heartache when our lives are in turmoil. I wanted a change in government and it didn’t happen. However, God says to not be anxious about anything but in all things give thanksgiving. During this season of thanksgiving, I plan to do just that! I am thankful that our God is faithful and true. I am Thankful that our God will never leave us nor forsake us! Hallelujah, what a Savior! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 11/15/12
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