Thanksgiving

Let us pause to reflect the first Thanksgiving. In the early 1600s a large number of the colonists arrived on the shores of this New World. They had come here mainly to be able to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. However, they were unprepared for the harsh winters and other hardships that confronted them. That first year many of them died. The American Indians, watching their peril, decided to help them. As a result, the remaining few survived and in the autumn of 1621 Gov. William Bradford proclaimed a Thanksgiving feast, which continued for three days. Prejudices were forgotten as both Indians and white settlers gathered together to share what they had and to give thanks to God for his protection.

This Thanksgiving Day as we gather together to give thanks to God let us reflect on how fortunate many of us still are and to pray for those less fortunate.

JAMES CADY, Rosemead