Thanksgiving 2010

Our Thanksgiving celebration has its roots in the European harvest festivals as far back as the 1600s and 1700s. We traditionally believe that the first "Thanksgiving" was in 1621 in Massechusetts, but there were other festivals and gatherings before that, here, in Canada, Europe, and elsewhere.

The winter of 1620-21,  the first for the new explorers whom we know as the Pilgrims, was very harsh. Alot of them did not survive the trip over here on the ship, and more perished because of that winter. The native Indians in the area helped them get settled, and they planted their crops. It was a good fall harvest. They decided to have a gathering to celebrate the fruits of their labor, and also hunted some game and fowl for the event. However, remember that they are less than a year into this "colony" that they set up at Plymouth. Things were pretty rough. They had only their own resources, ingenuity, and provision, plus what the Indians were able to help out with. Some say that the Indians were very instrumental in helping the Pilgrims survive that first year.

Today, in 2010, we have a national holiday. It is the start of the Holiday Season. Many faiths celebrate their main holiday at this time of year. The obvious one is Christmas, but there are others as well. The stores are ready for an onslaught of bargain hunters and browsers, some are even open on Thanksgiving Day this year. Quite a difference from 1621, when they were just getting along by the skin of their teeth. The first settlers had something to be thankful for, though they had lost much over the past year. They had no way to know what would come to be in the next 300+ years.

These days we have alot of stuff, and even if we are dealing with problems of job, finances, relationships, health, or even politics, we have things to be thankful for. Run those through your mind as you chew on a turkey leg, breath in the fresh aroma of just baked pie, or enjoy your favorite beverage.

Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving. Share it with someone else. Be thankful and giving. And as my Brit friends say, Cheers!

Happy Veterans Day

Are you a veteran? Do you live with one? Do you know one? Thank you to all our veterans, past and present, living and passed. We are a rich nation with a powerful past, active present, and promising future, that is protected by the men and women who love our country and joined up to fight for it. All paid a price, some gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Fly your flag, shake a vet's hand and thank them for their service. Do that any day, not just on Veteran's Day. And then, walk in the glow of liberty that a loving God provided to us through the efforts and sacrifices of a special group of people who are unselfish, brave, strong.

God Bless America!!!