Gratitude Day 3

Today's challenge is a little different. Let us think with gratitude about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. I am a descendant of the early settlers (not on the Mayflower to my knowledge but very shortly after) who fled to the Americas in search of religious freedom. My ancestors mostly came from Holland and France. Something I take for granted, yet affects my daily life, was of such importance that these ancestors left home, family, comfort for an unknown future. A future full of trial, hunger and freedom. I am grateful for the pilgrims, for my ancestors and the many others who engraved religious freedom on the psyche of America. For those who died, who starved, who bore children in the wilderness I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude.

I spent a few minutes today learning a little more about this time. If you don't have time here are a few of my favorite things that I read. If you have a little more time there are some links to some websites I liked. So take a little time to learn just one thing you didn't already know about the pilgrims.

Leonard and Harvene have asked their grand children to do a little presentation so Coen and I will be reading from a book about Thanksgiving- so here is part 2 of the challenge- do something with your kids to learn about Thanksgiving. Here are a couple of links with TONS of ideas. I can't wait till next year when Coen is a little older.

This web site had lots for kids but sadly I couldn't get the link to work. So here is the site: www.hubbardscupboard.org/the_pilgrims__first_thanksgivi.html

As always the Crafty Crow has lots of great ideas for kids too. I LOVE this site.

These next two quotes are from the writings of some pilgrims describing the time.

"We set last spring some twenty acres of Indian corn, and sowed some six acres of barley and peas. According to the manner of the Indians we manured our ground with herrings (alewives) which we have in great abundance and take with great ease at our doors. Our corn did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase in Indian corn. Our barley did indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering. We feared they were too late sown. They came up very well and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom. Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might, after a special manner, rejoice together, after we had gathered in the fruits of our labors. They four in one day killed as many fowl as with little help besides, served the Company for almost a week, at which time, amongst our recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their great king the Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted. They went out and killed five deer, which they brought in to the Plantation, and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. Although it not always be so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty. -- We have found the Indians very faithful in their Covenant of Peace with us; very loving and ready to pleasure us. Some of us have been fifty miles into the country by land with them. -- There is now great peace amongst us; and we, for our parts, walk as peaceably and safely in the woods here as in the highways in England. - I never in my life remember a more seasonable year than we have enjoyed. -- If we have but once kine, horses and sheep, I make no question but men might live as contented here, as in any part of the world. -- The country wanteth only industrious men to employ, for it would grieve your hearts to see so many miles together with goodly rivers uninhabited, and withall to consider those parts of the world wherein you live to be seven greatly burdened with abundance of people."

"They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwelling against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength, and had all things in good plenty; for as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All summer there was no want. And now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first, but afterward decreased by degrees. And besides water fowl, there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides they had about a peck a meal a week to a person, and now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion.--And thus they found the Lord to be with them in all their ways, and to bless their out-goings and in-comings..."

Here are the websites I enjoyed looking at.

This web site here

This is about the meal.

And here is a proclamation for thanksgiving I think written by New Hampshire's congress, but presented to and printed by the Continental Congress. I just love the acknowledgement of God in out bounty. And we have so much bounty in our lives- it seems endless.

IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his providence in their behalf: Therefore the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine goodness to these States, in the course of the important conflict in which they have been so long engaged; the present happy and promising state of public affairs; and the events of the war, in the course of the year now drawing to a close; particularly the harmony of the public Councils, which is so necessary to the success of the public cause; the perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their Allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to divide them; the success of the arms of the United States, and those of their Allies, and the acknowledgment of their independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these States:----- Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several States to interpose their authority in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.
Done in Congress, at Philadelphia, the eleventh day of October, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and of our Sovereignty and Independence, the seventh