GOD’S INVOLVEMENT IN AMERICA’S THANKSGIVING:
THE STORY OF SQUANTO – A TRUE AMERICAN HERO
God inspires actions and
interaction with people across the entire world. He is magnificent, intricate with
details, and miraculous in all His ways. Following are the events of the first
American Thanksgiving. This version of the story comes from two Christian-based
historical references, and is an example of how deeply our God is involved in
our human history. I love this Thanksgiving story and like reading it every
year. I think you’ll like it too.
Within the first year,
half of the 102 Pilgrims who landed in America, died. Of the 50 who remained
only 6 or 7 were strong enough to care for the others. William Bradford was
their leader. He survived the first devastating winter of 1620 and went on to
serve as governor of Plymouth for 33 years. From his book, Of Plymouth
Plantation, comes his perception of what happened; this amazing story of
how God intervened so that the Pilgrims could survive in this new land. He
writes in Old English which is a bit hard to navigate, but with a little
patience, you will be able to figure out all the words and content.
“About ye 16. Of March
a certaine Indian came bouldly amongst them, and spoke to
them in broken English, which they could well understand, but marveled at it…
He tould them also of another Indian whos name was Squanto, a native
of this place, who had been in England & could speake better
English then him selfe.
“Afterwards they (as many
as were able) began to plant ther corne, in
which servise Squanto stood them in great stead, showing them both
ye maner how to set it, and after how to dress & tend it. Also he
tould them excepte they got fish & set with it (in these old
grounds) it would come to nothing, and he showed them yt in
ye midle of Aprill they should have store enough come up
ye brooke, by which they begane to build, and taught them how to
take it, and wher to get other provisions necessary for them; all which
they found true by trial & experience… And thus they found ye Lord to be
with them in all their ways, and to blesse their outgoings &
incomings, for which let his holy name have ye praise for ever, to
all posteritie.”
Bradford added, “Squanto…
was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation.”
How God worked in
Squanto’s life is really amazing. In 1605, a member of the Native American
Patuxet tribe, Squanto was captured by an English explorer and taken to England
where he learned to speak English. In 1614 Captain John Smith brought him back
to America but he was captured again and taken to Spain to be sold as a slave.
Local Catholic friars rescued him and introduced him to Christianity.
He went back to England
and got on a ship to his native America. But when he got home, he found that
all of his tribe had been killed by a plague. The sudden death of the whole
tribe scared the neighboring tribes and so they never went onto the property,
making it available for the Pilgrims. Also because of the odd circumstances of
the tribe’s annihilation, the other tribes didn’t attack the Pilgrims and
Squanto facilitated a peace treaty that lasted over 50 years.
With Squanto’s help, the
Pilgrims’ second winter was much better. To celebrate, Governor Bradford
appointed a day of Thanksgiving and invited Squanto’s newly adopted tribe to
come and give thanks to God with them. The chief and 90 of his men came and feasted.
They ate deer, turkey, fish, lobster, eels, vegetables, corn bread, berries,
pies and popcorn that the Native Americans showed the Pilgrims how to make.
They competed in games of wrestling, shooting and running. The chief had
such a good time he and his men stayed and celebrated for three days.
This was the first
official American Thanksgiving.
If you’d like to read more
about this time in America, I recommend America’s Providential
History by Mark Beliles and Stephen McDowell and William
Bradford: Plymouth’s Faithful Pilgrim by Gary Schmidt.
Love, Carolyn
Are you wanting to live a more spiritual
life? I have a variety of books and booklets on living a more
spiritual Christian life. You’ll find the keys to receiving your heart’s
deepest desires. 😊
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