Thanksgiving and the five kernels of corn.

Mini Sermon by Craig Emerson Strain

Thanksgiving is truly an American Holiday. It's roots go back to Christian principles. In a society that wants to remove Christian principles from every occasion, it would be hard to enjoy the true meaning of Thanksgiving without realizing that it was a celebration to how God had his hand on the early American's lives.

Thanksgiving's beginnings are with the Pilgrims back in Colonial America. With the intervention of God, they had met an Indian named Squanto who had taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn, catch eels, stalk deer and catch beaver for their pelts. So Governor Bradford declared a day of public Thanksgiving, to be held in October of 1621. They invited Massasoit, who was a Chief of a tribe some fifty miles away, and he arrived the next day with ninety Indians! The Indians brought with them five dressed deer and more that a dozen fat wild turkeys. They taught the Pilgrims how to make a great Indian delicacy, popcorn! Between meals, the Pilgrims and Indians happily competed in shooting contest with gun and bow and foot races and wrestling.

The winter of 1621-22 was so hard that the Pilgrims were reduced to a daily ration of five kernels of corn a piece! They did not give in to bitterness and despair but grew in their faith towards God. Not a one of them died of starvation that winter.

The spring of 1623 began with a drought that lasted for 12 weeks. The first planting had failed and now the second planting was due. The older Indians could not ever remember a drought like this one. But the Pilgrims prayed and the rains came. It rained for fourteen days mixed with seasonable weather.

They had an abundance of food for the upcoming winter, so a second Day of Thanksgiving was planned. This time 120 braves arrived with venison and turkey. In all, it was said they had prepared six goats, about 50 hogs and pigs and divers hens. But before the first course was served, each person was served an empty plate with five kernels of corn. . . . lest anyone should forget.

It is easy in America today to see the plenty and forget the sacrifice. It is easy to see the good times and forget the times of despair. We might not have an empty plate before us, but there might be an empty chair at the table where someone we loved is now not sitting in.

2 Cor 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

This Thanksgiving, let's give God the thanks He deserves. We are a blessed nation. A nation under God. While we see nations and religions wanting to kill and destroy us. It is only because they see we are a blessed nation. One that is under God. Let us remember to stay "Under God" and give Him thanks.

Psa 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Psa 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

Footnote: All historical refferences are from a book "The Light and the Glory" by Peter Marshall. http://www.bakerbooks.com Purchase the book at Amazon.com

"THE LIGHT AND THE GLORY is one of the most informative books on American history and how God planned for America. It is well worth the reading." -C. E. Strain

"THE LIGHT AND THE GLORY reveals our true national heritage and inspires us to stay on God's course as a nation." -Tim LaHaye

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