We all know the true story of Thanksgiving, right? The Pilgrims arrived in the new land after their sail on the Mayflower from England and all of the religious persecutions. When they arrived in the “new world” they had no clue what to do next; they didn’t know how to hunt or grow corn or even how to stay warm in the harsh winter climate. Thankfully there were great men and women named Indians who were more than willing to help the Pilgrims get on their feet. The Indians began to show the Pilgrims how to do everything they needed in order to survive and in return there was a great feast of thanksgiving for the Indians. Happy Thanksgiving, the end. Ok, so I admit I am being somewhat overly simplistic here but there truly is a doctrine in our country called revisionism. It is a way to make history a little more politically correct. If we can somehow tweak small parts of history, as long as it doesn’t change the overall meaning, we won’t offend anyone. The major problem here is that there were great men and women who actually risked their lives --and some who died-- to make our country what it is and because of that we should strive to tell the whole story every time. The story of Thanksgiving my friends, is no different.

The real story of Thanksgiving began in England in the early 1600s. The Church of England, under King James I, was persecuting anyone and everyone who did not recognize its absolute civil and spiritual authority. Those who challenged its authority were hunted down, imprisoned and sometimes executed for their beliefs. In response a group of separatists agreed to make a risky journey to the New World where they would certainly face hardships but could live and worship God the way they desired. Finally, on August 1, 1620, the Pilgrims, who called themselves saints, set sail on the Mayflower. It carried a total of 102 passengers, including forty Pilgrims led by William Bradford to America. On the journey, Bradford set up a contract that established just and equal laws for all members of the new community, irrespective of their religious beliefs; this was the Mayflower Compact and guess where the ideas of this agreement came from… surprisingly enough, they came from the Bible.

On December 11, 1620, the Pilgrims reached Plymouth Rock but what was to come would be devastating. The first winter claimed nearly half of those who sailed to America on the Mayflower including Bradford’s wife. For many reasons this group of settlers should have been completely destroyed except for a remarkable Indian named Squanto. It was an amazing turn of events for the Pilgrims. Squanto an American Indian not only spoke some English but had already heard many stories about the God of the Pilgrims and was willing to help them fish, plant crops, skin beavers for coats and many other necessities for productively surviving the harsh American climate. Squanto was a miracle from God according the new settlers. Though this great American Indian had been captured before and taken to England, he knew these men and women who called themselves Pilgrims were much different.

When harvest time finally came after the first harsh winter it was becoming apparent that the Pilgrims would survive their new land. These men and women, with the help of the natives built homes, planted and harvested enough crops to keep them alive through the next winter and had ultimately beaten their enormous odds. To them the only explanation was God. He alone had brought them from persecution and he alone had brought them Squanto. For this Governor Bradford declared a feast of thanksgiving that lasted for three days but this initial feast is not solely where our true Thanksgiving tradition comes from.

After the summer feast of 1621, the Pilgrims would face two more years of hardships. They were still not used to harvesting and planting crops and a coming drought would again almost ruin them. In 1622 Governor Bradford would make another declaration, this time he called the Pilgrims to prayer and fasting because of the calamity that had again come to the young colony. Rain would soon fall on the Pilgrims and in turn provide for their biggest need. Again on November 29^th 1623 Bradford declared a day of Thanksgiving to God for his unfailing provisions. The Pilgrims were known for their numerous days of thanksgiving. To them every day was a day to be thankful to God who had seen them through persecution, the journey to the new world and the perilous times that awaited them there. Though the Pilgrims were grateful to Squanto and the Indians, God had been the one who supplied their needs and because of that he alone deserved all of the credit for their success. The real story of Thanksgiving was truly about a group of men and women who dedicated their lives to God for all that He had done for them. Without this early dedication to God, there is no day of Thanksgiving.