I love tomorrow’s holiday, a great tradition born on a chilly November night, exactly 400 years ago.

Dreamed into being in 1621 by a tough people after endless struggle through long periods of great hardship, tremendous hardship, more than we could ever imagine. 

They sat down together as community, and enjoyed a moment of peace, for the simplest of purposes:  to be grateful.  Together.

Their hardships were not over. Far from over.  This moment was no more than “a time out.” 

It was a, “Let’s stop what we’re doing and create a night of goodness.”

It was also a perspective shift: “Let’s step back and admire what we’ve created amidst the swirling winds of adversity.”

Their sumptuous feast was both acknowledgment and gratitude for abundance achieved by spiritual conviction, grit, determination, resourcefulness, ingenuity, and relentlessly pursuing shared hopes and dreams. 

The hard evidence was in front of them.  The “not possible” and “can’t be done” had materialized. The first harvest they had planted was on the table, steaming hot and smelling good, and together they could dig in and enjoy it.

It was a celebration of “We survived!  We didn’t give in!”

It was a time to be thankful too for all those who helped them survive, including the kind Native Americans who kept them from starving and including, many believed, the giver of Divine blessings.

It was this moment, the first on American soil, that said to all, “Let’s take a moment from the struggles of our work to nourish not just our bodies, but our spirits. Let’s love each other. Let’s celebrate all that we have accomplished in the face of adversity. None of it was given to us easy. And here it is. It’s beautiful.  Let us be thankful for all who helped us. Let us share together a really great meal (and start the great American tradition of eating way too much :) ).”

In short, that night they spoke with one voice, “Let’s celebrate all that we are thankful for.”

While we can’t compare the brutal conditions of 1621, no doubt this has been a tough year.  You survived.  You didn’t give in.  You created much that is good.  You helped many others.  And you had people who helped you get through.

That brings us to our special holiday tomorrow.  A celebration.

In addition to fabulous food, Thanksgiving is about love. And connecting with the people we love most.  We choose carefully who we spend Thanksgiving with.  These are the people who we let deepest into our hearts.  These are the people we reach out to for our holidays of love and belonging. 

As they look up from the meal and their eyes meet yours, I have no doubt the people you will be with will feel that you are what they are most thankful for.

I join them in that feeling.  One of the many things I’m thankful for is you. I know you are there and it makes me very happy that you are.

Wishing you a beautiful, love-filled Thanksgiving, one that lifts you up and fills your soul.

Be the cause!