Nine People Who Missed Thanksgiving

One of the oldest Thanksgiving celebrations by Europeans in America wasn’t in Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, in 1621 as most assume, but in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1610. Out of 409 settlers, only 60 survived harsh weather, food shortages, disease, and conflict. On that spring day, there was no food, no trimmings, and no football…just prayer and gratitude. They thanked God not for the trouble but while in trouble. With everything they lacked, they still realized they had much to be thankful for. That ought to be the posture of every child of God; despite where we are, what we have, and what we don’t have, we still have so much to be thankful for. As John Wooden said, “Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.” Gratitude comes when we realize how blessed we really are.