Christine Smith's Blog

Of Faith, Freedom & First Thanksgivings

In first grade, as a pilgrim (I’m the little girl in the front & center in checkered dress) offering a Thanksgiving prayer.

As for me, I am deeply grateful for the abundant blessings I have been given. Looking back on my life, I now see how times and experiences which were difficult, ultimately led to my good. This instills a trust in me, a peace, not dependent on circumstances…it is of faith. For me, Thanksgiving Day is as Christmas is to me, not a single day…but a way of life, a state of my heart.

My wish for you: May you recognize the great gifts, often in the form of other human beings, who have graced your life. Be they friends or family, there are those who have chosen to express love to you in ways that have encouraged and inspired. Remember them, and when possible, tell them. And, may you also recognize the incredible beauty of the natural world which is all around you. Taking time to see the blessings of other individuals, and of the earth, requires solitude to contemplate and ponder their significance in your life. I hope you take time to consciously do this.

Let us also be encouraged that history has shown that the spirit of man moves toward individual liberty, no matter of state power and its evil oppression, the human spirit endures. Freedom will always prevail.

I share a few articles I’ve found interesting to read and thoughts as Thanksgiving Day approaches.

As to the event traditionally observed, a beautiful quote:
William Bradford, Puritan Governor, (as quoted in The Light and the Glory),” As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light kindled here has shown unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation…We have noted these things so that you might see their worth and not negligently lose what your fathers have obtained with so much hardship.”

A friend loaned me her copy of “The Light and the Glory (Did God have a plan for America?)” by Peter Marshall and David Manuel. It is an excellent narrative of the struggles the Puritans faced. This book provides much a insight into the beginnings of our nation as it is largely based upon the actual writings/diaries of the early settlers starting with the arduous trip here. The struggles and hardships, as well as the successes, are most interesting to read in their own words. The death rates, starvation, sickness, and all the while their concern for their spiritual well being, are shared. Whether a believer or not, I think readers gain much interesting information and knowledge in this book.

It was only a year or two ago that I read from Bradford’s writings, as it was linked from a most interesting article about the real story behind the one most oft told of Thanksgiving. As it was new to me then, and certainly does not appear to be widely taught and shared, I highly recommend the following two articles, and Bradford’s writing, to my blog readers:

The Great Thanksgiving Hoax
by Richard J. Maybury

The Real Meaning of Thanksgiving: The Triumph of Capitalism over Collectivism
by Richard M. Ebeling

And, during this Thanksgiving season, you might, too, find William Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation of interest (reading from his original text is fascinating), the Charles Deane copy is available to read online at Google. See page 134 for the account of the wise decision to give each their own land so they could keep the rewards of their work (rather than sharing land and crops in common).

If only the truth as related in the above two articles was widespread (sure wasn’t taught in schools I attended…but imagine, if it were today.) I recommend that those who seek to communicate what liberty really means with others share links to articles such as those by Maybury and Eberling with others this season. It is a great opportunity to illustrate the blessings of freedom versus the failure of collectivism/socialism with our own history of Thanksgiving.

As for “First Thanksgivings?” you ask, well, it’s all a matter of whose venture into this land you wish to focus upon. Three years ago, I wrote a short piece about that topic (it’s brief, so details of these stories is something I recommend you research further). You may read that 2005 article I wrote (cached) here.

One need not be Protestant to appreciate the celebration of a grateful spirit. My Catholic parish not only has Mass, but prepares a dinner for the entire community to attend! Gratitude for one’s blessings, a genuine wanting to be of service to others, and gathering and appreciation for friends and family, is a universal experience.

Another two interesting articles (which may be of particular interest to fellow Catholics & those interested in our nation’s history):

Is “Thanksgiving” Catholic?
By Taylor Marshall

and an informative piece about Don Juan de Oñate:
The First Thanksgiving Was Catholic
Marian T. Horvat, Ph.D.

(For Thanksgiving, I have also posted a blog entry, a Photo & Prose Tribute in Gratitude to My Father, which I invite you to read.)