The Meaning of
Thanksgiving
By Nick Bibile
Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims who had
founded the Plymouth Colony, now in the state of
Although this event was an important part of American Colonial history, there is no evidence that any of the participants thought of the feast as a thanksgiving celebration.
Two years later, during a period of drought, the Puritan Pilgrims fasted and prayed unto the Lord, the Lord answered the prayer and rains came during the prayers. Then the Puritans thanked the Lord in celebration. The Christian Pilgrims began the true Thanksgiving by giving thanks unto the Lord for the harvest.
However today, Thanksgiving has become a worldly holiday; it
is not the Lord who is the center of Thanksgiving but the
In the beginning the Puritans never intended it to become a ceremonial holiday, but it was the world that made it into a traditional holiday, leaving God out of the Thanksgiving.
Remember to thank the Lord during the Thanksgiving Day and everyday, he is the one who gives us air to breath, the food for the stomach, shelter and clothing, even our jobs. He gives life and any time he can take it away.
We owe God everything and need to thank the Lord daily for his provisions.
Psalm 50:14 Offer to God a
sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and perform your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
It is God who makes the sun to rise on evil people and good
people and sends rain to just and the unjust people. (Matt