Be Thankful Series

What are you thinking of for this upcoming Thanksgiving Day? I've known in years past, the day before and Thanksgiving morning were a time of stress for the hostess of the family get-together. Stress such as, how's the turkey in the oven doing? Is it browning or is it getting over cooked? Will Ellen bring the cranberry jelly or forget it like Rose did at Easter? Say, sister Nancy, watch out and don't sprinkle too much paprika on the deviled eggs. You know Uncle Spencer is allergic to that. Jeanie, how is the brown gravy doing? Don't let it get too watery. Wanda, would you please stick a toothpick into the corn bread to check if they are done?

John, did you bring in the Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole from the car? Greg, that pecan pie your mom made looks perfect. Where is that Carolyn and Dennis? Are they going to be late again? Hey, kids! Stop running around! All you little monkeys clear out of the kitchen, we women have a lot of work to do and y'all are under foot. Go watch the game with the men. Git! Scat!

Yes, Thanksgiving can often appear to be more hectic than quiet or serene. Has Thanksgiving lost its original meaning? I mean, how can normal conversations compete with the supposed entertainment value of cellphones and the blaring television? The true meaning of Thanksgiving should focus upon relationships. Once the meal is tabled, good conversations between relatives and friends should abound. But let's not forget the Thanksgiving bonds Christians share with God the Father.

Those bonds, by the way, are a longstanding tradition stemming from the Pilgrims' arrival at New Plymouth. Their view of Cape Cod must have been an extremely welcome sight after more than two horrendous and sickening months at sea. Surely, the Mayflower crew and the diverse group of Puritans, Separatists, and tradesmen passengers gave thanks to God.

Of the 149 people that disembarked from the Mayflower, 48 were officers and crew while 101 were passengers. 56 of those were known to be Londoners and 35 were from South Holland. Only 41 of the men passengers could be classified as “true” Pilgrims, religious separatists, seeking freedom from the Church of England.

The Mayflower Compact, as it is known today, was signed by those few “true” Pilgrims on 11 November, 1620, and became the first governing document of Plymouth Colony.

Not only was this a governing document, it was the first piece of writing that established the “Christian foundation” in this new land. One of the three surviving copies, from the 17th century, reads:

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our Sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc. having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colonies unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape-Cod, 11 November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign lord, King James, of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

At least nine of the adult passengers were indentured servants and hired artisans who were selected to work in the colony and in the fisheries. Also, there were thirty-one children, 20 boys and eleven girls. Except for one, none of these children had either a father or mother among the passengers. They may have been waifs sent to Virginia—an increasingly used practice. Now the mystery of the waifs had puzzled historians for the longest of times. That story is not suitable for a Bible Study topic but can be read at https://strangeco.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-waifs-of-mayflower.html.

We must keep in mind and be thankful ourselves that these brave souls were fleeing the religious persecution of King James the First of England. Had they not—who knows? America might have developed badly and not become the stronghold of freedom, liberty, and democracy that it has been. Originally, I wrote that “it is” but of late, I feel “has been” is more accurate.

Even as America was formed, God was central to the lives and hearts of most of the people in the young colonies. Then, during and after the Revolutionary War, God's hand guided this fledgling nation.