The Pilgrims church was simple, with no crosses, statues, stained glass windows or fancy architecture. There was no particular religious significance to their “meeting house.” In September 1620, the Mayflower departed with 102 passengers bound for the Virginia coast.
That autumn of October 1621, the remaining colonists of Plymouth and about 90 Native Americans celebrated a three-day outdoor feast which probably included venison, water-fowl, fish, wheat, corn, barley, and perhaps a few peas. They may have also had shellfish, lobster, eel, nuts, squashes, and beans - which were common local foods.
Why have a thanksgiving celebration, what reason was there to give thanks to God? Their lives were hard, over one half of the pilgrims had died in the first year, hunger, and sickness continued, they had endured unimaginable hardships.
I believe these men and women were amazing! they could give thanks because they believed God had blessed them. God had been faithful to his promise. God's will had been done and their dream was still alive. Do you have faith like the pilgrims had?
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5



17 Cherished Comments & Thoughts:
I'm with you...those Pilgrims were young, vibrant, and amazing people. I'd really like to be more like them! Thanks for the word this morning and what a beautiful header you have for the week!
Thank you for the history reminder. Please come visit me today.
http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/2008/11/gratitude.html
I enjoyed that lesson on pilgrims. The giving thanks reminded me of our sunday school lesson today. It was on Job and how hew was able to give thanks even after all he had lost.
Awww...yes, a difficult year is all the more reason to give Thanks! :)
Kathi, thanks for the reminder of what the Pilgrims went through and stood for. I will be saying prayers (as I do everyday) for our service men and women. They deserve thanks every day of the year! I have to admit I love the praying squirrel pic at the end of your post!! Don't you just want to pinch his cheeks!! Thanks for sharing all these wonderful things with us!
Thanks for this splendid lesson from history. There are so many lessons to be learned from what you wrote. It breaks my heart that our country seems to be traveling as fast as it can in the wrong direction. We need to turn back to the value of our roots. I am grateful for all who travel on in faith. You encourage me!
What a marvelous post. Thanks for sharing with us.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Charlotte
What beautiful thoughts and reminders to us all.
I have to tell you I sent a special card this year to a wounded soldier. I don't know him, he is a friend of a friend. But he was badly wounded in Iraq and his bomb detecting dog killed.
He was flown home to the states for treatment and I can't help but think of him and so many others like him this year.
Hugs!
Thank you, Kathi, for this post. Today's young people are not taught about this and it is so sad. Thank you so much. Keep up the good work.
blessings,
Cheryl
God bless you Kathi for sharing your post today. May we all be thankful for His bounty; everyday! Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Blessings,
Sandi
I can't even begin to imagine the hardships of the pilgrims, I complain that I have to go to work in a decent, comfortable environment and I should be grateful that I even have a job. And the thought of the troops away from their families...too sad. They are always in my prayers....If I don't see you before hand .Hope you have a Happy Thaksgiving! ~ Robyn
HI Kathi..
Happy Sunday (((Hugz))) Boy I'm slow on my rounds today lol, My mind says come on Lorie it's time for visits amd my body just is not cooperating!!. But alas the mind won lol. I often wonder what it would have been like living and experiencing those times as pilgrams. Thank you for this lesson, I learn something new everyday. The message I seem to get when I think of them is unity, sharing, and a thankful heart.
Hugz Lorie
If I had been a pilgrim...we would never have made it as a nation. I'd still be sitting by the shore whining! It was a good thing they were strong and resilient! Thanks for the lovely post.
What a wonderful post, thank you for this very interesting history lesson, it's been ages since I've read the details of the pilgrims.
The pictures are great, love the little squirrel!
Katherine
What a great post! Your pictures are so perfect.
God Bless,
Ginger
Thank you for this beautiful perspective and reminders.
This is so beautifully written. I live close to the first Moravian settlement from the mid 1600s. Every store carries Moravian cookies and things unique to that settlement. So, I never forget the pilgrims. My grandfather from that time started the first protestant church in our area and it was called The Pilgrim Reformed Church. So your explanation of the word pilgrim is near and dear. Thank you.
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