“. . . proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof . . .” Lev 25:10 (KJV)
When the Mayflower dropped anchor off the coast of Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620, it carried pilgrim passengers weary and worn from cramped conditions, hazardous seas, and the expectation of the unknown conditions of their landing. It is likely that it was by the Providence of God that they landed in Massachusetts rather than their originally intended destination of Virginia. Had they gone to Virginia, they may have not fallen among the same friendly native peoples as they met in Plymouth.
They risked their lives to bring the Christian faith to the New World. It was not a matter of enhanced livelihood, for they faced deprivation of winter cold, starvation, and unknown threats to their existence; however, the Indians were kind in teaching them how to plant and sow in the New World. Above all else, they came to be free to practice their religion as they believed God intended without government or societal persecution. They brought with them the sacrificial impulse to be free and to practice their faith in truth and peace.
We owe a debt of gratitude to these courageous Christian men and women. They planted the seed of Liberty on these North American shores that began with the Mayflower Compact and later resulted in the Declaration of Independence. Should we not cherish these freedoms as much as they?
We observe the occasion of their coming with a specially mandated holiday - Thanksgiving. On this day, we remember that liberty can only be maintained by vigilance, wisdom, and sacrifice. A multitude of freedom loving Americans have died, of faced the dangers of death, in defense of our Liberties. Let us never cheapen their sacrifices by allowing those hard faught battles for Liberty to go forgotten.
The only free people are a Godly people who have valued love and wisdom above the opulence of wealth.
To all, I pray that your Thanksgiving observance is a joyous one, and filled with love and gratitude for the Lord who is the Author of our Liberty.
