O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known
his deeds among the people. Psalm 105:1
Happy Thanksgiving!
Please take a few minutes to read the article below by
Jerry Stewart.
We all know the story of that first Thanksgiving, but
what do we know of the Pilgrims after that? After the Pilgrims celebrated that first Thanksgiving,
the next winter was so terrible, so harsh; it made it almost impossible for the
Pilgrims to hunt or fish. Their food supplies were quickly depleted and the Pilgrims
were forced, once again, to ration out their food.
When the next spring came, they were tired and sick and
weak; hardly able to begin their spring planting. But they knew if they didn't
have a crop of at least twice the size of last year - they would surely die.
Twice the planting? Did they have the strength to do it? Only with God's help.
So, they set out in the fields, men, women, children, all
working to plant their crops. The first planting was hard, but successful. But
as soon as they had harvested that first crop, they had to set their weary
bones to begin again with the second planting. It was very hard, but it did
appear that things were going to work out. And then it came - a dry spell that
lingered on and on. Then, it turned to a drought. A drought so harsh that even
the oldest Indians could not remember anything like it before.
Week followed week as the blazing sun burned down on the
crops. One of the Pilgrims, Edward Winslow, described it this way: "There
scarce fell any rain, so that the corn stalks began to send forth the ears
before they were half grown, with both blade and stalk hanging their head and
changing the color to appear utterly dead. Even our beans parched away, as
though they had been scorched before a fire".
So, just what were the Pilgrims to do? Their crops were dying
and they could do nothing in themselves to stop the drought. And if this crop
could not be harvested, there would not be enough food for the winter. Well,
most people would moan and complain and maybe even blame God - but not the Pilgrims.
They did something quite amazing. Accounts tell us that they began to examine
their own hearts before the Lord. Then they made a proclamation that no one was
to work, but everyone was too fast and pray for God's divine intervention.
The drought went on for twelve full weeks. Just what
would happen? Winslow's personal account continues. He writes: "In the
morning when we assembled together, the heavens were clear and the drought was
likely to continue".
Then we're told that as a group they met and prayed for
some nine hours...then it happened. He says: "Before our departure, the
weather became overcast, the clouds gathering on all sides. On the next
morning, a soft, sweet and moderate shower began to fall. It came without
either wind or thunder, or any violence, and by degrees in such an abundance
that the earth was thoroughly wet and soaked therewith, which did so apparently
revive and quicken the decayed corn and other fruits, it made even the Indians
astonished to behold".
It rained for fourteen days. The crop yield that year was
in such abundance that the Pilgrims had even an excess to trade to the Indians.
They had done it. They had survived their last hard winter. Their harsh
circumstances had almost killed them and certainly did its best to discourage
them. But, they would not be defeated. Instead, these Pilgrims had placed their
faith, their trust, and their very lives in the hands of almighty God - and he
had delivered them. And that second thanksgiving was even more festive and
joyous than the first. There was an abundance of food for all. But, when their
first course was served, they each had placed before them an empty plate, with
just five kernals of corn, lest anyone should forget.
That day, William Bradford closed out his thought with
these words,
"As one small candle may light a thousand, so the
light kindled here has shown unto many we have noted these things so that you
might see their worth and not lose what your fathers have obtained with so much
hardship."
Enjoy the day praising and thanking God for all His
wonderful blessings.
Have a thankful day,
Donna
