Thanksgiving

He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 

Deutoronomy 26:9 (THE BIBLE)

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Hundreds of years ago, when the people of the Newfound land (America) celebrated their first autumn harvest, Thanksgiving day was born. I am sure it was nothing like it is now, no grand parades, humongous turkeys in site, tables covered with a dozen side dishes or brightly scented candles in sight. I am sure it looked much different.

Tomorrow, most families in America will celebrate Thanksgiving day and I so wished to be there this year. Just for the food alone! Mmm mm mmm ... Good Lawd 😋
But life being life, things didn't go according to plan. But today, just like other days, I have every reason to be thankful. For one, I am alive!!

But the thanksgiving story has become significant to me of late. Not for the harvest, or the settling or the years till it was made official but the entire journey of the pilgrims. To me, it bares some similarities with the Israelites going to the promised land.

So the story goes that some religious sets and other people from Britain, wanted freedom from ... and decided to leave to the New World. Over 100 people boarded this ship, the Mayflower for the New World. The months aboard the boat were difficult; raging storms and all the discomforts of having a home on water (I guess). But months later, they had reached a destination - a place to start all over again, a place to call home.

Lets stop here for now.

The Bible gives the account of the Israelites journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, then Canaan. They had been in slavery for hundreds of years; researchers have estimated up to about 430 years. Can you imagine that?
God came to their deliverance and they were finally going to their land of promise where they could have freedom and feel free to live out their beliefs. Unlike the pilgrims, this journey lasted for 40 years rather than 40 days which was the length of the journey by foot.
To the Israelites, the desert was their sea and they journeyed around and around until entire generations were wiped out.

Regardless, of time or method of transportation, these two events are similar. On the grounds of a journey to freedom, a fresh start, a new identity of the people; a new nation and their acknowledgement to God.

I believe that on the day when they first celebrated Thanksgiving day in 1621, a major part of their prayers where
'Thank You God for seeing us through the past year, for the journey to this land, and for your abundant blessings of provision which we see this day...'

Similarly, the Israelites had fought many battles, burned down cities, crossed the sea and many rivers to get to their Land. When they had finally reached, they said a prayer to God and offered their sacrificies of Thanksgiving.
Such acheivements need to be celebrated, and it's no wonder we celebrate birthdays as a symbol of transitioning from one stage to another.

I thought I would have a proper Thanksgiving this year. But this Thanksgiving, I have learnt to appreciate the journey of life. Sometimes in life, we might have to pack up our things and leave because the place we are in does not allow us to fully be ourselves, so we must get on that boat, or get walking, running because our promised land, our New World awaits us. And when you get there, don't forget to give thanks. I'll be giving mine to God.

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Happy Thanksgiving Folks! I see crazy numbers which shows this blog is going beyond my circle. Thank you for reading and for being patient, I know I am so irregular with this.

Till next time ... Happy living!

Claudy