Remembering Loss and the First Thanksgiving

Tomorrow in America is our national day of Thanksgiving, a day to gather with family and loved ones to celebrate the beginning of the winter holiday season and to remember all that we’re thankful for in life.

The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Jennie A. Brownscombe

Unfortunately, for some, there can still be sickness or death during the holidays, and the festivities this time of year only serve as a reminder of loss or pain. But it’s still important for families to gather together. This is a time to celebrate the lives of those we love, as well as to remember loved ones we’ve lost, and be grateful for all they have added to our lives. It’s a time to be grateful for everything that adds joy to our life, however great or slight. These days surrounded by loved ones can be a much needed boost to those who are feeling ill or nearing the end-of-life.

Culturally, we typically remember the “First Thanksgiving” and the preceding historical events through rose-colored glasses. Although the settling of the Pilgrims at Plymouth at the harvest celebration they shared with the Natives represents a great moment of triumph and unity in American history, the events were surrounded by much suffering and loss.

The reality of the settlers’ conquest of Native American cultures and land has in recent years become less of an untold story in our culture. And for decades, many Native Americans have shunned a Thanksgiving celebration and instead observe a National Day of Mourning.

Finally, what we often forget to recognize on this typically joyous kick-off to the holiday season is the illness and loss of life that those initial settlers suffered this time of year. Already many dead or ill from the voyage across the Atlantic, the remaining Pilgrims faced the coming winter with little land to harvest and few supplies left. This passage from the Journal of William Bradford upon the arrival of the Pilgrims to Plymouth displays the oft-forgotten plight of those early American settlers:

Being thus arived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees & blessed ye God of heaven, who had brought them over ye vast & furious ocean, and delivered them from all ye periles & miseries therof, againe to set their feete on ye firme and stable earth, their proper elemente. And no marvell if they were thus joyefull, seeing wise Seneca was so affected with sailing a few miles on ye coast of his owne Italy; as he affirmed, that he had rather remaine twentie years on his way by land, then pass by sea to any place in a short time; so tedious & dreadfull was ye same unto him.

But hear I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amased at this poore peoples presente condition; and so I thinke will the reader too, when he well considered ye same. Being thus passed ye vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation (as may be remembred by yt which wente before), they had now no friends to wellcome them, nor inns to entertaine or refresh their weatherbeaten bodys, no houses or much less townes to repaire too, to seeke for succoure…

Let it also be considred what weake hopes of supply & succoure they left behinde them, yt might bear up their minds in this sade condition and trialls they were under; and they could not but be very smale. It is true, indeed, ye affections & love of their brethren at Leyden was cordiall & entire towards them, but they had litle power to help them, or them selves; and how ye case stode betweene them & ye marchants at their coming away, hath already been declared. What could not sustaine them but ye spirite of God & his grace? May not & ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: Our faithers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this willdernes; but they cried unto ye Lord, and he heard their voyce, and looked on their adversitie.

We don’t forget death during the holidays, as the cycle of life doesn’t take time off. Use this time to cherish those around you and to celebrate loved ones you’ve lost, as every moment can be one to be thankful for.

Image Source (Public Domain)