- Pastor Belinda - Nov. 28, 2024
First let me say I pray you have a very blessed Thanksgiving.
I wanted to write something that would bring the first Thanksgiving to life for you. I thought I would share a little geneolagy and history with Thanksgiving rolled up together.
The Wampanoag are a Native American people of the Northeastern Woodlands currently based in southeastern Massachusetts and formerly parts of eastern Rhode Island. Their historical territory includes the islands of martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, also known as Yellow Feather, was my 11th great grandfather, who also lived in the surrounding area where the pilgrims were located. Massasoit is said to have provided food to the colonists during the challenging first winter.
The Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest in 1621 even though they landed in 1620. The first “Thanksgiving” was likely between Sept. 21 and Nov. 11, with 50 Mayflower passengers, my 13th great grandfather William Mullin being one of the pilgrims, and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans (relatives I am sure) lol. This feast, not initially identified as Thanksgiving, followed the harvest and was prepared by Pilgrim women and servants. It is said in some accounts that Chief Yellow Feather ( my grandfather) brought seven deer to the feast.
History gives us some different accounts on how it all took place. Reading the different stories can give you pride for our Nation that was birthed and sadness in some cases of war and hard times. The scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says ..in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I am thankful my grandfather made it over on the Mayflower, I am thankful that my other grandfather helped to provide food during the first winter. I am thankful that all in all I came to be. Rusty has said before that if any of your grandparents, even way back, didn’t meet and hook up, that the version of you that exists would not exist! That’s a little scary when you look at your genealogy. But this Thanksgiving you can give thanks that everything that needed to happen that would bring you into this world happened by the hand of God. Yes, He is in charge! He was way back then, and He is today!
Let’s give thanks today for all that God has done!
A wild side note, my 10th great grandfather, Chief Wahunsonacock of the Powhatan tribe (of which I am a member) ruled the Powhatan empire. At the time of the colonists’ arrival his empire essentially covered present-day eastern Virginia, extending from the Potomac River to the Great Dismal Swamp, and its capital was at the village of Werowocomoco. Jamestown was located on an uninhabited peninsula within his territory. In 1607 Chief Wahunsonacock declared war on the pilgrims at Jamestown. Looking back at history it’s only God that I am who I am! So this Thanksgiving I am very thankful for God’s protection, and making me who I am.
Happy Thanksgiving to you from the Native American side of me and the Pilgrim side as well!
Happy blessed Thanksgiving!
Pastor Belinda🌷
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