Remembering the Real Reason We Celebrate
When November rolls around, most of us think of food, family, and a much-needed day off. But the roots of Thanksgiving reach deeper than today’s traditions. The first celebration in 1621 wasn’t centered on parades or football—it was a moment when people stopped to acknowledge God’s provision.
After a devastating first winter, the Pilgrims who survived knew their harvest was nothing short of miraculous. The first Thanksgiving gathering with the Wampanoag tribe was an opportunity to express gratitude to God for sustaining them. They knew that survival, food, and community were gifts far beyond their own ability to provide.
That early Thanksgiving set the pattern for an entire nation: setting aside a day to stop and recognize that life itself is something we receive from the hands of a benevolent creator, not something we control.
Centuries later, we celebrate Thanksgiving for the same reason: because everything we have flows from God’s hand. Our families, homes, work, health, opportunities—all of it is a gift. Thanksgiving invites us to pause and remember the Source of every good gift.
Scripture puts it simply: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). The Pilgrims believed it, and it remains true today.
Beyond daily blessings, there is one reason for gratitude that rises above all others: the gift of salvation from God. Through Jesus, we have forgiveness of sin, hope for the future, and a salvation that nothing in this world can take away. Even in seasons of uncertainty, this truth stands firm.
Thanksgiving, at its heart, points us back to the God who provides, protects, and saves.
So as we gather this week—around busy tables or quiet ones—Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to slow down and reflect. Not just on the material blessings of the year, but on the faithfulness of the One who makes every blessing possible.
Thanksgiving is a perfect reminder of God’s goodness, His faithfulness, His provision, and the greatest gift of all — salvation.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Chick Publications
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