The Story of Thanksgiving

In 1620 120 people boarded two ships, theof things they could be grateful for. Instead of
Mayflower and the Speedwell, for the "Newfocusing on the negative these Pilgrim Fathers
World". After 64 days difficult journey thelearnt that we could learn to focus on the positive
Mayflower was to be the only ship to reach theand give thanks no matter what the
"New World" and the number of people had beencircumstances are that face us. Instead of
greatly reduced. Despite these facts and the factgrumbling and complaining we could be thankful for
that many of them were in poor health, they hadthose blessings that we do have.
arrived too late to plant and harvest a crop andThis day of thanksgiving marked a turning point in
were facing many other difficulties they learnt athe history of the colonists and in the making of
very important lesson which has become trueour nation, America. With thanksgiving, hard work,
heritage to many people - that of thanksgiving.the grace of God and help from the Native
By the end of that winter only a quarter of theirAmericans their colony grew and flourished and
number remained, their shelter had not beenthey were able to lay the foundations of
enough to protect them from the harsh weatherdemocracy and freedom.
conditions and a number of times they hadThey not only kept this thanksgiving to
suffered attacks from the natives of the land. Itthemselves but held a party each year at harvest
was at the end of this dark, cold winter that thetime for all the other colonists and so began the
few colonists that remained got together andtradition of having a day of thanksgiving each
instituted the tradition of Thanksgiving.year which has now spread from those original
They met to review where they were at andfew colonists to millions of people worldwide.
what had happened, and although theWhy not take some time today to give thanks,
circumstances looked very grim, one of theirkeep a gratitude journal or spend time with
number encouraged them, "Yes, all that is so. Wefriends and family discussing the things you can be
can hang our heads and say, 'Oh woe for us', orthankful for. If the original colonists could come up
we can have the attitude that we made awith a list of 100 things to be thankful for, how
decision, we are here, let's look again and let's lookmany more can we be thankful for today? Why
for some good things, and let's make the best oflimit this positive attitude of thanksgiving to the
what we have. Let's be thankful, let's be joyfulfestival of Thanksgiving once a year? Let's try
and let's make this grand adventure work."each and every day to fill our lives with gratitude.
So it was that they came up with a new list, a list