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