HISTORY LESSON: Thanksgiving

The Pilgrim’s first Thanksgiving tradition dates back more than 400 years. However, some folks believe Thanksgiving is steeped in myth and legend. Except for two documented accounts by

Edward Winslow and William Bradford, in all probability, no one will ever know more.

Regardless, many Americans honor the tradition. We gather together each year, the last Thursday of November, to celebrate the feast of our forefathers, as they did. We thank our Provider for the many blessings bestowed on us by His good grace.

George Washington celebrated the occasion, and down through the years, presidents also followed tradition. Unlike the Pilgrims, three days of feasting were set aside.

In 1827, Mrs. Sarah Josephine Hale began to lobby for her cause. She thought the day of

feasting and prayer should be an official holiday. The determined lady carried her quest to the attention of several presidents. During the years that followed, her words fell on deaf ears until President Abraham Lincoln heard her cry ---loud and clear.

I understand that full well. He lent an ear to more than one human cry during his administration. The lean leader stood tall and moved in a positive direction. So it was, in 1863, the President of the American people and, for the same people, declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Abe knew the woods like the back of his hand. Found the path that led to the clearing, directly to the bountifully spread table, for which those settlers were so grateful. He would listen to their story of survival in the untamed New World and hear about the hardships endured and suffering felt due to drought. After a shortage of rain, bad crops, and a shortage of food, the rains came, and the drought ended.

The Pilgrims saw light at the end of the tunnel. Seeds were planted in the moist soil. The plants flourished and grew into summer. Come fall, the branches of the native fruit trees were fully-fruited, and wild grapes and berries were abundant. Those plantings matured and yielded a reason for celebration and gratitude. One can almost see God smiling down on those happy colonists! Our 16th president was an extraordinary man and an ordinary one -- no frills. Abraham could have easily identified with the Pilgrims and would have been quite comfortable dining with them and

As I did, Mr. Lincoln would have enjoyed Thanksgiving Day feasts at our house. Sharing and caring gave us a warm feeling during the holidays and year-round. We all worked to make that happen for us. We over-filled our horn of plenty during good growing seasons. It often spilled out and into the grateful hands of folks who found our place during the season. If the Pilgrims and the Indians and Abe, for that matter, could have journeyed back from the past and found our haven on Elm Street during our seasonal holidays, all would be welcome at my Dad’s table, a feast, bounty to go and good seeds to sow.

Thanks to you, my readers, I continue to reap and share the bounty of earlier harvests vividly stored in my mind and happy heart.

Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless all of you!

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