Happy Almost Thanksgiving Day!!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. An attitude of gratitude always provides needed adjustments to get into the right frame of mind.

The Pilgrims' story - that is the Thanksgiving story - is filled with hope in the midst of despair, triumph after much tragedy, love that knows only adventure, and a deep sense of family.

Let's ponder the plight of our Pilgrims for a moment. They suffered religious persecution in England, fled to Denmark only to find disappointment, went back to England to devise a grand adventure to an unknown foreign land a vast 2,750 miles of ocean away, suffered delays and many losses. YET, they still gave thanks after all the tribulation, trials, and hardships.

They didn't know what waited on the other side. They just knew they loved their God and He was compelling them away.

While He was preparing their hearts on that side of the ocean, He was making provision on this side of the ocean even though they got off course. The Pilgrims intention was to go to an established colony in Virginia but they ended up in Massachusetts where no white men were. But lo and behold there just so happened to be an English speaking Indian who lived near where they landed. How does that happen?? Divine providence is the short answer. 

Squanto, a local Indian, had been captured years earlier and sold as a slave. He lived in England, where he learned English. Then eventually made his way back to the area where the Pilgrims landed. He was instrumental in the Pilgrims survival in the new foreign land. What a Godsend!!

So, as you make your Thanksgiving preparations tonight, thank God for the Pilgrims, thank Him for Squanto, and thank Him for His Providence.

Want to know more? One movie we recommend that speaks more about the Pilgrims is "Monumental: In Search of America's National Treasure." A good book for the Thanksgiving season is, "Thanksgiving A Time to Remember."

Enjoy your time of giving thanks!

#thanksgiving   #pilgrims   #gratitude  #providence