by Norman Halls, contributor
For many of us, the meaning of Thanksgiving usually includes feasting, four-day weekends, football games, floats, family reunions, or a forerunner to Christmas festivities. The expression of gratitude, especially to God, and the reflected adoration, sacrifice, praise, or an offering. Also, we must recognize our need to look to the farmer for harvest that will be on many tables. As you sit down with family and friends please express how grateful we are for our servicemen and women and their families who have sacrificed so much to protect us.
“In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers embarked on a journey to discover the New World. After a treacherous journey lasting 66 days, they arrived near the tip of Cape Cod, far north of their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River. One month later, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims, as they are now commonly known, began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth. Throughout that first brutal winter, most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy and outbreaks of contagious disease. Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers lived to see their first New England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore and began to harvest with help and alliance with Native Americans of the area. This alliance tragically remains one of the sole examples of harmony between European colonists and Native Americans.” From History of Thanksgiving
The hospitality and generosity of Native Americans has been told throughout the years. Roy Cook wrote in the ‘Thanksgiving: A Day of Mourning’, “One of a series of feasts reaching back into the group memory has been seized upon by the current modern society. The Wampanoag feast, called Nikkomosachmiawene, or Grand Sachem’s Council Feast. It was because of this feast in 1621 that the Wampanoags had amassed the food to help the Pilgrims thereby creating a new tradition European tradition known today as “Thanksgiving Day.” This Wampanog feast is marked by traditional food and games, telling of stories and legends, sacred ceremonies and councils on the affairs of the nation. Massasoit came with 90 Wampanog men and brought five deer, fish, all the food and Wampanog cooks.”
It’s ironic today how we treat the Native Americans who were here first. What REAL right did the federal government the invaders, under the Indian Removal Act 1830, have to remove Indians to a territory that didn’t provide good land to grow food and hunt. Native American quote: “When the white man first came to this land, we had the land and they had the bible. They taught us to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them again, we had the bible and the white man had the land.” We need to ask to treat Native Americans with decency.
We need to stop and give thanks in our prayers to all who has given us this wonderful day. We are blessed. Everything we want may not be in our houses, but we need to be thankful. It’s that time of year again. Each fall we stop and think about the harvest and all we have to be thankful for. The spirit of Thanksgiving is all about showing gratitude for your good fortune and giving to those who are less fortunate. Beyond Thanksgiving, buying a turkey for a Food Drive and conventional food drives are just some of the ways people can help. Express your thanks by involving the family in volunteering at a food kitchen and spreading kindness.
According to AAA this year will likely be the busiest Thanksgiving ever, so please be careful however you travel. On behalf of my family, relatives and friends we wish good health this time of the year.
