A Grateful Heart
“Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”
2 Corinthians 9:10–11 (KJV)
I’ll be honest, I’m no history buff, though I did enjoy American history back in school. But with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I felt drawn to look back and see where this holiday truly originated. What I found surprised me and stirred something deep in my spirit.
On a lighter note, did you know that the Pilgrims and Indians likely didn’t have pumpkin pie, or even turkey, at that first Thanksgiving? According to Edward Winslow’s 1621 letter, their feast included venison, seafood such as eel and shellfish. Also, cornmeal mush, and maybe even duck, goose, or swan. Their celebration lasted three whole days and was actually called a “Harvest Celebration.” At that time, a true day of “Thanksgiving” was usually marked by prayer and fasting, rather than feasting. I can’t help but smile and wonder if maybe, somewhere along the way, we missed the mark a little!
But then I came across a story that took me deeper: a story about a man named Squanto. I remembered his name from school, but reading his story as an adult Christian had a much deeper impact on me.
Triumph In Tragedy
In 1614, Squanto was kidnapped by an English explorer and sold into slavery in Spain. It sounds like the end of the story, but God wasn’t finished with him. The men who bought him were Christians who opposed slavery. They helped him gain his freedom, taught him about European culture, and introduced him to the Christian faith. Squanto eventually made his way to England, where he learned English and began working as an interpreter and guide for explorers. That job, which God placed in his hands, became the bridge that led him home. In 1619, after five long years, he finally returned to his homeland, only to discover that nearly his entire tribe had died from disease. He was alone, yet God was still at work.
When the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, they settled on the very land that once belonged to Squanto’s tribe. Living nearby with the Wampanoag people, Squanto became the only person who could bridge the gap between the two worlds. He taught the Pilgrims how to plant, fish, and survive. He translated their words and even helped form a peace treaty that lasted some fifty years.
Although his life was marked by tragedy, Squanto used every seed of experience, every heartbreak, every lesson, to bless others. And in doing so, he became part of God’s greater story. When he died, just two years later in 1622, Governor William Bradford wrote that Squanto “desired the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen’s God in Heaven.” What a testimony of faith and grace!
Multiplied Seeds
As I reflect on Squanto’s life and on the verse from 2 Corinthians, I’m reminded that God multiplies the seeds that we sow, whether it’s a word of kindness, an act of service, or a heart full of gratitude. Whatever we offer to Him, He uses to bless others and to bring glory to His name.
This Thanksgiving, I want to be more like Squanto. Grateful, faithful, and willing to let God use my story. Even the painful parts, for His divine purpose. I’m thankful for those who came before me and sacrificed so much so that I could live in this beautiful country. America may not be perfect, but I am still proud and deeply blessed to call her home. May our hearts overflow with thanksgiving, not just for what’s on our tables, but for the One who provides the seed, the harvest, and the hope.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!