"The True Miracle of Thanksgiving"

"The True Miracle of Thanksgiving"             

Do you know about Squanto, a Patuxet brave? Are you aware of the calamity and victory he experienced leading up to the first Thanksgiving?

As we in the United States prepare for Thanksgiving this week I’m reminded of the true story of Squanto along with Proverbs 16:9, which says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” This passage can certainly be applied to young Squanto.

I want to share some of Squanto’s experience with the help of a book and a few of its wonderful illustrations by Shannon Stirnweis. The book is, The True Miracle of Thanksgiving, by Eric Mataxas. 

This book is categorized for children but the story is so good and the art so excellent I want you to have a chance to see. I recently read it to a small group of adults and they loved it.

Book Description: Every once in a great while, the hand of God is easy to see, and so it was with a lonely Patuxet brave and a struggling band of Pilgrims.

In 1608, a 12-year-old boy named Squanto was captured in America and taken to Spain as a slave. With the help of Spanish monks who taught him about God, Squanto make his way to England and finally back to his homeland.

Squanto arrived to find an empty village—a deadly virus had wiped out his entire tribe. In their place, a small group of struggling Pilgrims settled and called their new community Plymouth.

Because of his time with the monks and in England, Squanto could communicate with the Pilgrims and knew about God. Soon he became their valuable guide and true friend. 

 

"Hallelujah! Who but the glorious God of heaven could so miraculously weave together the wondering lives of a lonely Patuxet brave and a struggling band of English Pilgrims in such a way that would bless the whole world for centuries to come?"

Chuck Colson, about this book: “The only thing more amazing than this true story from American history is the fact that so few people have ever heard it. I’m glad to know that my colleague, Eric Metaxas, has written this wonderful book.”

This post shows just a few of the pages from Mataxas' book. Hopefully you get the gist of the story.

Happy Thanksgiving!

©Copyright 2017 Connie Wohlford

Thanksgiving History Lesson & George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

Thanksgiving History Lesson & George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

The concept of Thanksgiving Day started with the pilgrims, as mentioned in the video link below. But an official day declared throughout the land was not begun until years later.

 

In 1789 the U.S. first president, George Washington, issued a proclamation for a day of Thanksgiving. Here is President Washington’s proclamation. I’d like to encourage you to print it out and read it at your Thanksgiving celebration.

 

 

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor -- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be -- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks -- for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation -- for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war -- for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed -- for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted -- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions -- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually -- to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed -- to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord -- To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us -- and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington 

The Library of Congress George Washington Collection

The Library of Congress Thanksgiving in America

FOUNDATIONS OF OUR LIBERTIES

  

Seventy-four years later during a tumultuous time, in a nation torn by civil war, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the last Thursday of November a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise.”



Norman Rockwell - "Thanksgiving"

Each year on that day, Americans gather for a day of feasting, football and family. While today’s Thanksgiving celebrations would likely be unrecognizable to attendees of the original 1621 harvest meal, it continues to be a day for Americans to come together around the table—albeit with some updates to pilgrim’s menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 Click on this link for a History Channel video about the history of Thanksgiving:

http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving/videos/thanksgiving-becomes-a-holiday

Click on this link for information about President Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation---- includes the words of his proclamation.  

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/11/22/read-abraham-lincolns-1863-thanksgiving-proclamation/

©Connie Wohlford 2015