Thanksgiving: The Providential American Holiday (pt 2)

 If you remember, my last tidbit was primarily focused upon the Providence of God (GP)* that brought the English Pilgrims from Holland to the Eastern shores of America. God sent winds to blow them off course as they sailed toward Virginia to what is now the Massachusetts area. 
  After prayer, they were led by the Holy Spirit to land at what is now Cape Cod. When they disembarked the Mayflower, in God’s Providence, they stepped upon vacant land previously occupied by the Patuxet Indians who had all died earlier from a plague.
  Now on to Samoset! The date was October/November of 1620, so the Pilgrims began building houses to survive the winter. The good news is that the food from the ship lasted until the Spring of 1621. However, the bad news is that diseases like Scurvy and the many challenges of their new habitat hit the small group of 102, and by the Spring—nearly 50% perished. It was during this time that their Christian character was forged. Many times only 5 or 6 people were healthy enough to care for the sick—what if the Indians attacked(GP). Food shortages led to starvation, and hope of survival quickly faded!
  However, enter a single Indian** who boldly walks into their camp(GP) named Samoset(GP). Incredibly, he spoke broken English(GP), which he learned from some of the previous English explorers who occasionally visited the area. He proceeded to tell them of the violent, warring Patauxet tribe who previously lived on the land they now inhabited(GP). He spoke of how the other tribes would not live there in spite of it having fresh water and fertile land, perfectly suited to produce for any inhabitants(GP). After teaching the Pilgrims many things in their first encounter with the natives, Samoset decided to leave but promised to return with the Wampanoag tribe(GP).
  Several days later, Samoset returns with Chief Massasoit and many braves, squaws, and their children. In the Providence of God, Squanto was among them—who arrived at the exact moment of their desperation!!! Remember, like Joseph in Egypt, Squanto was among the 6 Indians in the initial capture by Thomas Hunt. Squanto spent 9 years*** living with an English sea captain, becoming fluent in the English language and ways, before returning to America in 1614.4*
 Was it an accident, luck, or chance, that Squanto’s tribe perished? Or, that Pilgrims landed on their land? Or, that Samoset arrived alone--and nonviolent--to the English settlement? Or, that he was able to teach the Pilgrims? Or, that he was connected to the Wampanoag tribe? Or, that Samoset was able to convince Chief Massasoit to walk with his tribe 50-70 miles to the Pilgrims on the former Patuxet land? Or, that Squanto was a Patuxet Indian living with the Wampanoag tribe at that precise moment?
  Was it an accident, luck, or chance, that the Wampanoag tribe were non-violent against the English? Or, that Squanto spoke perfect English? Or, that Squanto even had any desire at all to return to the site of the death of his entire tribe? Or, that he had any desire whatsoever to help the English after being kidnapped and enslaved by them? Or, that Squanto was the only living Patuxet Indian on earth?
 
Is all this mere chance?
 
   Historian Stephen McDowell wrote, “He (Squanto) showed them how to plant corn, assuring its growth by setting it with fish; he taught them how to catch fish and the times when they could not find the creeks stocked with fish (the Pilgrims had only caught one cod in the preceding four months)--he taught them to stalk deer, plant pumpkins, find berries, and catch beaver; whose pelts proved to be their economic deliverance. Squanto was also helpful in securing a peace treaty between the Pilgrims and surrounding Indian tribes, which lasted over fifty years.” 5*   
  William Bradford, elected Governor of the Pilgrims also wrote, “Squanto… was a special instrument sent of God for their good, beyond their expectation.”6* 
 In addition, it was Squanto who helped Chief Massasoit to sign a peace treaty lasting 54 years!!! Was this just another accident? Chance? Luck?
  In October of 1621, Massasoit returned with 90 braves, their squaws, and children. They feasted on “deer, turkey, fish, lobster, eels, vegetables, cornbread, herbs, berries, pies; and…the Indians even taught the Pilgrims how to make popcorn. They competed in foot races, wrestling, and shooting games. Massasoit enjoyed himself so much that he and his tribe stayed a full three days”5* This was the first Thanksgiving!
 
   For these multitudinous reasons, the traditional celebration of ‘Thanksgiving’ is a day set aside by Americans to thank ‘GOD’ for His providence!
 
 
*Remember, the initials GP stand for the appearance of God’s Providence, which I decided to add to reveal all the times God supernaturally provided for the Pilgrims
**Was this an accident? Chance? Luck? Absolutely not! It’s called the Providence of God.
***Squanto was converted to Christ and forgave those responsible for kidnapping and enslaving him
4*Some historians identify this date as 1614, which means Squanto was enslaved either 7-8 years if 1614 is correct; or 14-15 years, if 1605 is correct.
5*Stephen McDowell, historian
6*William Bradford, Of Plimoth Plantation (Boston: Wright & Porter Printing, 1901), p. 111. 
 
Quote bit
Whatever you build ends up building you!  -Derrick Jackson