Thanksgiving

In 1621, following their first harvest in the "New World", the colonists of Plymouth had a great feast. The local Indian tribe, led by King Massasoit, contributed five deer to this 3 days of feasting and joined with the Colonists in giving thanks. Edward Winslow, one of the leaders of the Plymouth Colony, described the feast like this in the book Mourt's Relation.

"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 the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, Many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was 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."

This was the foundation for our tradition of Thanksgiving. In the 384 years since this first Feast of Thanks, our traditions have grown and evolved, but the basic truth of the event is the same. We get together with family and friends and give thanks for the bounty that God has bestowed upon us. During this era of war, scandal, natural disasters and media driven desperation, many of us feel that we don't have any reasons for giving thanks. I beg to differ. I would like to share with yall some of the things that I am giving thanks for this year:

1) I live in a small town that is blessed with at least two caring compassionate preachers that go beyond the norm in caring for their flocks. Reverend James Ralson of the First Baptist Church and Reverend Doug King of the Methodist Church are untiring in their efforts to give aid to our community.

2) My oldest daughter choose to continue the superb education that she received from our small town school. She's attending Texas A&M University in College Station. Even though this will be the first Thanksgiving that she will not be at our dinner table, and we will miss her terribly, I know that she is still marching towards her dream. A dream made possible in no small part because of the blessings of this small town.

3) My family has been blessed with good health the majority of this year. In the past few years we have had many health issues and it was only the support of our friends and neighbors, here in Celeste, that made it possible for us to survive those hard times.

4) My youngest does not have a driver's license yet. The rest of you Fathers, and budget minders out there will understand completely why that is a blessing to be thankful for.

5) Both my wife and myself have been gainfully employed this entire year. This blessing enabled us to keep food on the table, a roof over our head and clothes on our backs.

6) American kids are still patriotic enough to put on a uniform and travel to foreign lands in order to defend our nation. The battles they fight against, terrorism and tyranny, are being fought in Baghdad and Falujah not New York City and Celeste.

7) The American spirit still lives. People still have enough faith in the bounty that God bestowed upon our truly blessed nation, to go out and start new business's, buy new homes and start new families.

8) Not the last or the least of the things that I am thankful for, but the last I will mention in this column. I am thankful for the opportunity that this paper affords me to share my thoughts and ideals with my neighbors here in Celeste.

Disagree or Agree feel free to add your own comments.

Please send any feedback to UnkHiram@BHocutt.com