THE Pilgrims are famous as being the ones that gave us the wonderful Thanksgiving holiday that we celebrate with turkey, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce each year. Some people might wonder what they had to be thankful for, because it seems that all they had experienced was death, tragedy, hunger, cold, and disease. One hundred and two people had started the journey from England to America, but only forty seven survived to see the first spring in the new world. They had left England because of persecution, they suffered terribly on the sea voyage, and saw many of their loved ones die in the new world.
They did not know how to farm, gather, hunt, or fish. They were not hardy
outdoorsmen from the old world, but city folk unused to hardship. When they
arrived at Plymouth Rock, they waited aboard ship for an entire month before
landing to start a colony. They were not equal to the rigors of the task of
building shelters, acquiring food, fighting disease, and of the vary basics of
survival.
By any of today's standards, the Pilgrims would be said to have had a
deplorable, miserable, wretched, and pathetic year. Yet, they gave thanks to God for his goodness. They were thankful! I wondered, How could they be thankful. Thankful for what? They had had a year of intense loss and suffering. YET, THEY WERE THANKFUL.
I have known people that have had much more in the way of comfort, benefits,
supplies, health, and possessions, that were not thankful for anything that they had. Rather, they only dwelt upon things that they did not have.
I have known people that were on Welfare that were not thankful, but where
would they have been without the Welfare system? Instead of being thankful, they complained that the government should be doing more for them.
I have known of people that were eligible for six months of unemployment
payments that complained because they wanted more. Why not be thankful for six
months of support that fed and sheltered them?
People become unthankful because they have come to feel that they are entitled to certain benefits, that it is due them.
Some third world countries have become used to foreign aid. They have come to expect it, and, consequently, they are unthankful when the United States gives them millions of dollars.
People that expect the gift of a Cadillac are not thankful for a Chevrolet.
God's Word instructs to be thankful for all things. In another passage, the
Bible instructs us to be thankful for all things. The Bible tells us, "that
all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose." The Bible warns us that one of the signs of the last days is that "men will be unthankful."
Thanksgiving Day, this year, is November 27, 2008. God help us to be thankful on that day, and on every day.
God is good beyond our understanding. He loves us immeasurably. We are the recipients of his mercy, grace, and love. We are saved. We have the hope of everlasting life in heaven. We are called, chosen, and elect. We have a Bible. We have a revelation of the Mighty God in Jesus Christ. We have a "born again" experience. We have a wonderful church. We are all wealthy by the material standards of the world. We are blessed. BE THANKFUL! BE THANKFUL! BE THANKFUL!
