Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Just what are we doing when we give thanks? We are acknowledging a benefit, favor, or the like, expressed in words thoughts or actions.
November is the month of thanksgiving. Whenever possible we gather with family and friends to celebrate the national day of thanksgiving. The great feast we enjoy is often thought to be modeled after that first day of celebration by the Pilgrims. For as long as I can remember my mother 
retrieved her lovely wax candles of a Pilgrim woman and Pilgrim man and reverently placed them on the dining table for all to be reminded from whence this special day began. They were never lighted. They just decorated the table so we could enjoy them each year. Today they grace our table each year as a reminder of that first Thanksgiving Day and also of my mother’s devotion to her ancestors who started a national tradition of giving thanks.
As a child who loved the Pilgrim story, little did I know that one day I would learn I was descended from William Brewster, the first religious leader, who traveled with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower to the new world here in America. We get our modern Thanksgiving Day celebration from this small group of religious dissenters who joined with Native Americans to express their gratitude to God for a good harvest. I cannot help but wonder if today many enjoy the trappings of the holiday, but fail to ever utter a word of gratitude.
When it is all said and done, it makes little difference how we celebrate Thanksgiving, so long as we take time to truly express our gratitude for all of God’s gifts to us.
November 8, 2009 at 11:35 pm |
What a nice message. I can see Grandma putting out the candles and explaining it all. We are so grateful for our loving families that taught us to be loving and grateful! Happy Thanksgiving Love, Sue
November 9, 2009 at 1:39 am |
So that’s where they are! I hadn’t seen them in years. For sure, they were NOT to be lighted. I guess you’ll just have to invite your younger brother up for Thanksgiving dinner, if he wants to see them again. (Next year, you can blog about Lil Gibson and the Thanksgiving dinner when the can of whipped cream exploded.)
November 9, 2009 at 7:35 pm |
When you mentioned Thanksgivings past, it reminded me of Ma and Dad’s giant Thanksgiving dinners on the ping-pong table, often with Donny’s kids in attendance. We used to look forward to their visits. Ma loved all her nieces and nephews and all their kids so much that it naturally rubbed off.
Are you related to Brewster on you father’s side (fingers crossed) or you mother’s side? (mother’s side)
Have a lovely Thanksgiving.
Love, Holly
PS I thought Pete’s comment was hilarious. So that’s where they are!