Mountian of Hope

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Comment by MRS.YANKSTER on November 26, 2009 at 7:10pm

True Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving Day recalls another Thanksgiving many years ago-the happy hours I spent with my children and grandchildren. Over turkey and dressing, I decided to quiz my then 8-year-old grandson, as proud grandparents often do.

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I leaned over and said, “Charlie, why did the Pilgrims celebrate the first Thanksgiving?”

Charlie resorted to the obvious answer. He said, “They wanted to give thanks.”

“And who did the Pilgrims give thanks to?”

Charlie squirmed a little bit. “I don’t know,” he said. “I guess they were thanking the Indians. That’s what we learned at school anyway.”

I was aghast. We were celebrating a major holiday with deep Christian roots, and my own grandson didn’t know its significance!

The real Thanksgiving story starts in 1621, in Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts. Life was hard for the Pilgrims, and through the first winter the tiny colony endured hunger and privation. Nearly all of them fell ill, and only half survived the winter.

But spring came, the crops were planted, and the first harvest proved bountiful. Governor William Bradford called a special feast to give thanks to the Creator. They celebrated for a week, along with 100 Native Americans they invited to join them.

The Pilgrims did not give thanks to the Native Americans; they invited them to join in giving thanks to God-the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God made known in Jesus Christ.

Days set apart for thanksgiving were a common feature of colonial life. In 1631, a Puritan colony faced starvation when a ship carrying food supplies was delayed. Governor Winthrop declared a day of prayer to God. On the appointed day, as they were praying, the ship sailed into the harbor. The day of petition was turned into a day of feasting and thanksgiving.

Other thanksgiving days were held in Florida, Maine, and Texas. Virginia colonists wrote into their charter that the day of their arrival was to be “kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

Today we don’t hear much about thanking Almighty God. Instead we are urged to conjure up a generic gratefulness directed to nobody in particular.

When I realized my own grandson had lost sight of the Christian meaning of Thanksgiving, I knew I had to do some homework myself. I pulled together information about George Washington, who declared a day of national thanksgiving in 1789. I tracked down literature on Abraham Lincoln, who declared Thanksgiving an annual holiday in 1863. And I sat down for a good, long talk with Charlie.

As Christian parents, we need to make sure we are passing on our religious heritage to our children. The recent Religious Landscape survey by the Pew Forum showed that 18 percent of Protestants and 30 percent of Catholics who had some faith as a child are now unaffiliated with any religion. We’ve got to do better passing it on.

So today don’t assume everyone knows why you are gathering together over turkey and cranberry sauce. Teach your children and grandchildren that generic gratefulness isn’t enough. Thanksgiving means giving thanks to the one true God.

Comment by MRS.YANKSTER on September 29, 2009 at 11:25pm

Jesus the Great Fixer...
You may be knocked down with your back against the wall. You maybe down for the count...I've been there. Just when your at your lowest and you feel your worst God's got a cake baking for you. It's got your name on it, made just for you to get you through your journey and give you the victory.

Comment by Ginner on July 24, 2009 at 2:21am

Hello....I am here to ask for prayers.
Bless you all.
Ginger

Comment by colsbutterflies on July 17, 2009 at 11:49am

The song "I can only imagine" My sister in_law sung at my g-moms funeral, it still bring tears to my eyes...I love christian music, but I can only imagine is my favorite.... Blessing & Prayers to all my friends currently suffering

Huggs and Thank you for the invite! :-)

Comment by MRS.YANKSTER on June 23, 2009 at 8:37pm

BLESSINGS AND PRAYERS I HOPE EVERYONE IS WELL. I AM ALWAYS THINKING OF YOU.
LOVE AND PRAYERS MRS.YANKSTER

Comment by MRS.YANKSTER on June 6, 2009 at 8:20pm

Comment by MRS.YANKSTER on April 15, 2009 at 10:28pm

Life is fragile. Handle with prayer.

Comment by MRS.YANKSTER on April 14, 2009 at 5:18pm

Comment by MRS.YANKSTER on April 2, 2009 at 10:20pm

O Lord, through the passion of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I beseech Thee to watch over and guide all those who suffer from chronic illness. Grant to us the courage to face our situations so that others may see Your perpetual light shining through us, as a beacon of strength that overcomes setbacks, and reaffirms Your Precious Love for ALL the sheep among Your flock. We are all Your children in spite of our physical situation, and Your Loving Son shepherds those of us who believe. Grant us the spiritual and mental strength to endure so that we may live in Your Divine Shadow. In the name of Jesus Christ, King of Kings, please hear and bless this prayer O Heavenly Father. Amen.

Comment by Ionne on March 20, 2009 at 1:17pm

Thank you for staring Mountain of Hope. Such a beautiful place for those to share with each other. I am anxious to read all the discussions.
Hugs,
Ionne

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