THANKSGIVING, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

What does thanksgiving mean to you? Well, when someone does something nice for you, what do you do? You say, “Thank you,” don’t you?

Sometimes that just doesn’t seem to be enough. Has someone ever done something for you that made you so happy that you wanted to do more than just say, thank you?  You might like to give them a big hug, send them a note of appreciation or give them a basket filled with flowers.

 

It is very important to show our appreciation when someone does something nice for us. Isn’t it? 

Well I do not know anyone who has done so much for us as God has. God provides food when we are hungry and water when we are thirsty. He heals us when we are sick and he comforts us when we are sad. The Bible tells us that He is an ever-present helper in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) 

Because of all God has done for us, we should say thank you to Him through our prayers.

 

When Jesus was here on earth He taught us how we can be thankful to God. He said: “Whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you do it for me.” (Matthew 25:40) 

Do you know what that means? Well, when we feed someone who is hungry, it is the same as doing it for Jesus.

 

When we visit someone who is sick, it is the same as doing it for Jesus. When we give clothes to those who are in need, it is the same as doing it for Jesus.  

Here in the United States when the first pilgrims arrived on a boat from Europe, it was very cold.

They had to build their homes and get settled very quickly. They also built a church so that they could get together to sing, study the Bible and worship the Lord.   

They were thankful that God had brought them safely to a new country where they could worship God without being persecuted. 

By the time spring came, the snow melted, the leaves began to grow, and the flowers started to bloom.

 

Some friendly Indians had visited the Pilgrims during the winter, and several of the men, had returned the visit. 

One of the Indians who was called Squanto came to help the Pilgrims for a while, and he showed them how to plant corn, pumpkins, wheat and barley. 

When the summer came and the days were long and full of sunshine, the Pilgrim children were very happy, and they thought Plymouth, the name of their new city, was a lovely place.  

All kinds of beautiful wild flowers grew right in their yards. There were many birds and butterflies and the great pine woods close to their houses always offered a cool and shady place when the sun was too bright.

 

When it was autumn the fathers gathered the barley, wheat, corn and pumpkins that they had planted, and found that it had grown so well that they would have quite enough for the long winter that was coming.

 

The children were happy playing with their animals and fed them apples. They were all very grateful.

 

“Let us thank God for it all,” they said. “It is He who has made the sun shine, the rain fall and the corn grow.” So they thanked God in their homes and in their little church.

 

The men went hunting for wild turkey and there was enough food for everyone for almost a week. The women cooked all kinds of delicious meals and pies with the great harvest that the Lord had provided.

 

Then they all decided to have a great Thanksgiving party, and invite the friendly Indians, and all rejoiced together. They were thankful to God for providing everything including their new friends, the Indians, who had helped them so much. 

So, this is why we celebrate Thanksgiving Day here in the United States.  

But no matter were we live, we need to have a thanksgiving attitude in our hearts every day as we see the many ways God blessed us, and we need to thank Him by obeying His Holy Word and being a blessing to others.

Let’s pray: Our Father, we come into your presence with thanksgiving. Help us to make each day a thanksgiving day for all the blessings that we continually receive. Thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Goodbye, until next time. Until then, remember to say your prayers obey your mom and dad and do not forget to go to church and Sunday school next week.  

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