Don't let Thanksgiving lose its true meaning?

I have lived abroad now for over ten years and I do okay until the first of November. On the first of November I begin to think about the Thanksgivings we celebrated in America. I do not know if I miss the family or the food the most. By the time Thanksgiving arrives I have dreamed of turkey, fruit salad/coconut, fresh green beans, baked ham, candied yams, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, potato salad that is not lumpy, squash casserole, homemade rolls, mashed potatoes, cranberries, stuffing/dressing and sweeten tea so many times I have had to change the pillow case ten to twenty times because I have salivated on my pillow every night.  

Each year I go through the same grieving process. It is as if my best friend has died. I know intellectually it is coming and I tell myself every year I will not let it get me down. I will get up and go about my day like all the natives of my new home who do not celebrate Thanksgiving.  It will be just another day of the year, but then the Monday before Thanksgiving arrives and the emotions begin to get the best of me.

Thanksgiving is the one holiday that defines America as a nation. It is the one day when the men of the house have no expectations except to relax and eat. Thanksgiving is the day we can eat all we want and not feel guilty. We tell ourselves New Year is just around the corner and we will make a New Year resolution to diet or exercise. Sorry ladies it is a day of long hours and hard work for you, but you know you love it. It is the day you can really show off your cooking talents to family and friends. We love you for it!

I think Thanksgiving should be an international holiday. Doesn’t every man in the world need a day to relax, eat all they want and have no expectations placed upon them.

I try to console myself by thinking of all the poor people working in retail in America that will not have the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving because of their greedy employers. Retail workers across the country will have to work and most have no choice in the matter. There is no mandatory paid vacation in the United States, meaning that employees could be threatened with firings if they choose to take Thanksgiving off to spend with their families. Some retailers like Kmart, refuse to make accommodations for employees’ holiday schedules. Last year, Target threatened to fire employees who took off for Thanksgiving.

Sadly because of changes in society some families have forgotten why the day was established. Its meaning has slowly deteriorated, and is now almost completely lost under a cloud of media hype, sales pitches, marketing tactics and commercialism. My oldest sister never allowed our family to lose sight of the real meaning of Thanksgiving.

I would like to take a moment to remind those American families that have forgotten and let my new friends in the Philippines know how Thanksgiving originated.

In August 1620, the Mayflower, a 180-ton ship, set sail from Southampton, England with 102 passengers they would become some of the founding pilgrims of the United States of America, and the initiators of one of this nation’s most popular holidays.

After weeks on rough Atlantic waters, battling strong winds, pounding waves and a number of problems with their vessel, the pilgrims spotted Cape Cod, off the coast of Massachusetts. The storm was so strong that they did not land at their intended destination. Their intended location was off the Virginia coast, where other pilgrims had begun colonies.

Before anchoring at Plymouth Rock and disembarking to explore the territory, the pilgrims devised the “Mayflower Compact.” This was to serve as the basis for governing their new colony, where all would have the freedom to worship God as they chose.

The compact stated, “We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord King James…Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, covenant, and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony: unto which we promise all due submission and obedience...”

The next few months would prove to be difficult. More than half of the original pilgrims did not survive the first, long cold New England winter. Often, two or three people would die in one day due to infection and sickness.

But, with the approaching of spring came new hope. The survivors built homes and planted crops. They made friendships with local Indian tribes, and traded with them. The passing of winter allowed the pilgrims to labor and produce and the colony flourished.

After reaping their first harvest in the fall of 1621, the pilgrims dedicated a day for thanking God for the bounty with which He had blessed them. They were at peace with their neighbors and they were especially grateful for their harvest. This allowed them to gather and store food and crops for the long cold winter ahead.

Their governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving toward God. They prepared a great feast to enjoy with family and friends from within the colony and with neighboring Indian tribes.

The following quotes from America’s God and Country demonstrate Bradford’s and the colony’s thankfulness for God’s protection and blessings: “Being thus arrived in a good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element. Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of God have all the praise”.

Clearly, pilgrims of the Plymouth colony gave God credit for all that they had. Notice the many references to God, and their acknowledgement of how He granted them so many blessings. The pilgrim’s beliefs were firmly entrenched in the realization of God’s presence and intervention in their everyday lives. Thanksgiving Day began because of this belief. It is a day dedicated to giving thanks to God for the many things we often take for granted.

Over the years, many colonies did keep Thanksgiving, but they kept various other days of thanksgiving, at different times of the year. It is a popular misconception that the pilgrims kept Thanksgiving on the same day each year following the first celebration in 1621 and that the other colonies began keeping that same day. In fact, it was a tradition always used to highlight and show gratitude for important events, such as bountiful harvests, victories in battle, etc. Whenever these took place, the colony called for the celebration of a day of thanksgiving.

In the late 1700s, during the American Revolution, the Continental Congresses suggested the yearly observance of a day of national thanksgiving, in hopes to unite factious states.

In 1817, the state of New York adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual holiday. By the mid-1800s, other states likewise adopted the practice. In 1863, President Lincoln appointed it as a national holiday, and gave a Thanksgiving proclamation. Each president since then has issued a proclamation, announcing the celebration of this day.

Although most ancient harvest festivals were usually influenced by paganism, history shows Thanksgiving Day as practiced in North America was unique. The originators of this day focused upon giving thanks for an abundant harvest, sorely needed for survival. Being centered on giving thanks to the Creator is a major distinction in origin that separates Thanksgiving Day from holidays tainted with pagan origins.

The pilgrims could never have imagined that America would become the global power it is today. The U.S. has continuously been at the forefront of economic prosperity, medical science, technology, food production and space exploration. Its citizens enjoy the freedoms of religion and speech. It is country known for its charitable works.

Yet Americans over the last two decades seem to be slowly forgetting where these blessings come from. Some seem to also be forgetting that there are conditions to receiving God’s blessings. The condition is obedience to God!

 Americans enjoy many blessings that others in the world do not enjoy and we should always be grateful and give thanks to God for them. Before the younger generations lose sight of God’s blessings upon America they had better study the history of Rome, Greece, Egypt, England, Portuguese, Spain and France.

As Thanksgiving Day approaches consider the many wonderful blessings you enjoy. Be grateful for these wonderful benefits. Realize that these material blessings were not given to us because of anything we have done—we do not deserve them. God has bestowed them on us—simply because of His mercy.

Before you and your family enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, or begin watching a parade or football game, be sure to take time to truly thank God in prayer for the national wealth, power and prestige God has given the United States.

I am also thankful that my sister always made sure Thanksgiving was a family day that included our offering thanks to God.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD!