Copyright 2004, Barbara Gay Stoddard
Good Morning and welcome to our Thanksgiving Sunday Service.
Most of the people I know tell me that of all the holidays we celebrate in this country, they like Thanksgiving the best.
Sure holidays especially the winter holidays set us up with incredible expectations of joy and excitement. We all are getting busier and busier, as we begin to shop, and cook, make gifts, put on plays, learn new music, make travel plans, finish homework, and on and on and on. Those of us who have experienced sad times during this time of year – feel the hurt more whenever we start thinking of being with family and friends and realize that we won’t see some of our favorite people this year – either because they’ve passed away, or they are oversees protecting our country, or they’re sick or they just live too far away to go visit.
But Thanksgiving is still a precious time of year. A time to stop and think about the things we have. We remember all those people (family and friends) that were a part of our lives, or that are sick, or living far away. We get to remember when they hugged us or made us laugh. We take time out from our busy lives to gather with those friends and family that we can, we share great food around the table, we find ways to help other people that don’t have as much as we do. And we manage to stop for a day and enjoy the company of whom we’re with – even if we spend it by ourselves – we can still take a moment to think about the good things in our lives.
I’ve spent Thanksgivings totally alone, working in a soup kitchen, surrounded by every relative I know of, or with extended families, or with just one other person. I have spent Thanksgivings when I’ve had no money to buy a turkey, and thanksgivings when I’ve had so much extra, I was able to help feed three other families. I have spent thanksgiving mourning the loss of my father and thanksgivings overly excited about the upcoming wedding of my daughter. I have spent Thanksgivings in places where the azaleas are blooming and it is just tooooo hot and I have spent Thanksgivings when snowflakes the size of baseballs fell for 8 hours straight and we were snowed-in in a farmhouse in northern NH for two days.
And during everyone of these Thanksgivings, the poor ones, the rich ones, the lonely ones, the full of people ones, the hot ones and the cold ones…..I remember one thing. I was able to stop my normal routine for a moment and take time to notice the things around me that I cherish and love. Whether it be the sun or moon shine or flowers or pumpkins, or chocolate, or snow, or friends, or grandbabies, or parents, and yes even my sister and brother. I was able to see the beauty that I enjoy day in and day out and I make the point of telling myself – I am going to rededicate myself to remembering the good times and the bad times and embrace them all for they are my life and I plan to keep on living it in ways that help other people and help my planet keep on keeping on. Life is grand. Remember, this is the time you are living in – right now. So take note of what is happening around you and make it Good.
Just a thought!
One of the things we remember is the first Thanksgiving in America. And the pilgrims when they came here from England so many, many years ago. Before there were cars, and cell phones, and grocery stores.
In wintertime, in England, where the Pilgrims had lived, the temperature was probably in the 30's and 40's for most of the winter. In the land that came to be known as Massachusetts, the winter temperatures were more likely to be in the 20's or lower. And there was much, much more snow. In England, and also in Holland, there were fields, pastures, roads, villages, towns, and cities, which had been in existence for hundreds of years. In Massachusetts, there were the beaches where the Pilgrims landed, and there was forest, and more forest.
Whatever farming done by natives was done in a very different way and with completely different foods from what the Pilgrims were used to. The first winter was very hard for the Pilgrims - they were simply not prepared for it. Many went hungry and became sick and died that winter. In the spring, Native Americans showed the Pilgrims what to plant and how to plant in this new land. When harvest time came, the settlers we know as the Pilgrims, gave thanks.
It is said that beside each plate at their thanksgiving, the pilgrims placed 5 kernels of corn. Why would they have done this? Was it a reminder for them of how dependent they were on those small kernels of corn to help them survive? Was it to remember that someone showed them the way and gave them a lifeline in a time of great need? It is something to think about.
Remember we were talking about the Pilgrims placing 5 kernels of corn by their plates? You are going to receive a packet containing 5 kernels of corn. In a minute while Lisa is playing some beautiful music our ushers are going to pass the baskets to you so that each of you can take a bag with 5 kernels.
Place your corn packet by your plate at your Thanksgiving dinner. If you would like to take more corn home so that everyone at your table will have 5 kernels, I have more waiting in the commons for you.
Put the packet of corn away in a safe place. When spring comes and the leaves of the oak trees are as big as mouse ears, make a little hill of earth and plant 4 seeds around its edge. Place the 5th one in the center. Cover with earth, water it, weed it, and watch over it. You will grow corn like the early American settlers, the Pilgrims, did.
Let each of us give thanks for what helps us survive, live, and grow and love.
Blessed be.