Learn: When Celebrating is Courageous

It’s November. Thanksgiving will soon be here. But have you ever thought about how interesting the timing of this holiday is?

Growing up near Plymouth—the actual place of the first Thanksgiving feast—as kids, we learned a lot about the Pilgrims. We learned about why they left England (and Holland) to come to the New World. And how when they landed on the shores of their new home, winter was fast approaching. They didn’t have time to plant crops, let alone to reap a harvest. Food was scarce. That first winter, people died.

Those who made it to spring, made friends with the Native Americans who showed them how to plant crops. Without them, they wouldn’t have survived. According to History the first “thanksgiving” feast, was to give thanks for these crops, for their Native friends, and for making it through probably one of the worst seasons of their lives.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to celebrate. It speaks of suffering and coming out on the other side. It tells of God’s faithfulness through difficulty, and the abundance He provides after. But it is also a picture of how an act of gratitude, can also be an act of Faith.

Every year, as we remember the Pilgrim’s story, I think we forget that for them, another winter was on its way. That they celebrated even though they knew they were staring down another hard season. Sure, they were more prepared this time—they had food and their houses were built better—but winter was still coming. And for them, it was still a matter of survival.

Today, we too celebrate Thanksgiving right before winter. But because so many of us are far removed from the harvest calendar, I think we lose sight of the meaning behind celebrating before our harshest season. The availability of food at groceries stores and even online, takes away the struggle of feeding our families. And our heated houses, cars, and Gore-tex make winter much more bearable.

So for us, Thanksgiving has become a day to gorge on good food, before beginning our Christmas shopping on Black Friday. But what if it could be more? What if the Pilgrim’s story has more to teach us?

All of us have gone through or are going through hard seasons in our lives. Yet I wonder how many of us actually take the time to celebrate when our dark times become light. How many of us give thanks when we finally get the job, fall in love, or experience healing? Do we say a prayer or throw a small party when these things happen? Or do we just go on with our lives?

For the Pilgrims, celebrating with a feast wasn’t just about thanking God for the harvest or new friends. They were also recognizing that God had brought them through the worst, and that He would do so again. It wasn’t a shallow “thanks for all this stuff” celebration; rather it was a feast grounded in reality.

We all have falls of abundance, but we also have winters of scarcity. The Pilgrims knew that this was a fact of life; they didn’t expect any different. Yet they saw God’s goodness in both, and celebrated it.

The Pilgrim’s story reminds us that God has brought us through, that He will bring us through, and that on this journey, if we seek Him, we’ll even experience His abundance. But to live this out in the face of a harsh world, is not easy. To celebrate when we are hurting is no small task. And to truly celebrate Thanksgiving is courageous. It is an act of Faith.

If you are in a difficult season, and you are not looking forward to next Thursday, may the Pilgrim’s story give you hope. May it remind you that you will get through your winter. You will experience light on the other side. And there will be a day where you are able to have your own personal Thanksgiving—however big or small. In the meantime, may you celebrate this holiday as act of faith that your day will come.