The World According To Missygirl

Hi Friends! I hope everything is going good today.
I have something I want to share with you about Thanksgiving.
I hope you enjoy it. :

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING 1621

In 1603, King James of England resolved to exercise his authority over the government and the church of England. He opposed those who wanted to bring the Church of England's teaching and practices in line with the Bible.

A group of Puritans who were known as separatists was not willing to support the Church of England. They believed that the Church was under the leadership of Christ- not the king.

One congregation of Separatists gathered in Scrooby, where they were ridiculed by their neighbors, brought into court by magistrates, and constrained to keep quiet about what God was teaching them. They decided to move to Holland so they could worship freely. Although King James refused their request to leave England, they left anyway in secret. One group was arrested twice, as it was illegal to emigrate without government permission. (Sounds like many communist nations today!)

In Holland, the Separatists encountered difficulties as part of being "Pilgrims", wanderers in a foreign land. Though fearful, they were compelled to be "advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remoter parts of the world."

In 1620, they chartered two ships- the Speedwell and the Mayflower-to take them to the New World. After many complications with the Speedwell, it was abandoned and it's 102 passengers crowded onto the Mayflower. Upon dropping anchor in Cape Cod, they fell on their knees thanking God.

Their difficulties were not over. These pilgrims drew up a constitution, called the Mayflower Compact, introducing a measure of order. (Not all of the passengers who came to America were Christians and therefore came with different motives.)

Then the cold winter hit, and hunger and disease struck their group. Only 19 of the 41 men who signed the Compact survived, and 14 out of the 18 married women died. Yet in 1621, after they had reaped their first harvest, they held a celebration of thanksgiving to God over a meal that included wild turkey.

Each year, on the fourth Thursday in November, millions of Americans will be gathering together around a turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce to express our gratitude to God for the things that He has provided for us. But, in the midst of our feasting, let us remember those who died and suffered much so that generations following could worship our Heavenly Father freely in what is now known as the United States of America. (-From 70 Great Christians by Geoffrey Hanks, p.159)

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