the 1st Thanksgiving

Tonight in youth group, we talked about "the first Thanksgiving." Typically when someone uses that term, we refer to the whole pilgrim and Indian deal back in the early days of our country. As we were trying to find what sort of lesson to do, however, we ran across a study on the internet. Why do all the work if it's already been done for us, right? And so, we discussed Cain and Abel's offerings as the first Thanksgiving. Quite interesting. And applicable.

Normally when we think of Thanksgiving, we think of turkey, pilgrims, indians, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. And normally when we think of Cain and Abel, we think of two brothers, jealousy, and murder.

Look at it in a different way.

From the short passage in the Bible about Cain and Abel's offerings (Gen. 4:3-6), we can learn about an attitude of gratitude. Sure, it's catchy, but it's also so important and, ironically, so very easy to forget about during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. When God asked Cain and Abel
to bring an offering, He ended up being pleased with Abel's, but not with Cain's. What we got from that was that Cain basically put God after the other stuff he had going on. I think he gave God his leftovers from his crops. But Abel gave the fat part of the firstborn of his flock. No putting God second there. His attitude said, let me put God first and I know that He'll take care of me. Back to Thanksgiving, sure, we slow down on Thanksgiving day for about 5 minutes right before we pass the gravy to say what we're thankful for, but with what attitude, or with what mind-set do we give thanks? Is it with Cain's attitude of "I'll bring what's most convenient, let's just get this over with, I'm starving, so glad to have a couple of days off of work, please pass the turkey?" Or is it with Abel's attitude of "I am so thankful to God for everything that He has blessed me with so I'm bringing my best possible offering, let's really look at how much He has done for us, so what if the green bean casserole has to be re-heated, I want to give everything I have and everything I am to God?" Do you follow?

So, maybe the real first Thanksgiving, where we can learn about the attitude of Thanksgiving was thousands of years ago with Cain and Able, not hundreds of years ago with the Pilgrims and Indians.

I hope that God accepts my offering of thanks-giving.