The Rich History of Thanksgiving and Ten Ways Christians Can Show Gratitude for God's Blessings

This year has proven to be difficult to endure for many. November, in particular, was especially challenging for lower income families as they faced food insecurity with the delay of crucial government assistance and food benefit distribution. It placed massive strain on food banks and non profit organizations, and churches struggled to provide for those in need with limited resources.

For those who tumbled into a desperate economic state sparked by widespread layoffs and labor cuts, the Thanksgiving season would present the perfect storm to create anxiety, depression, anger, and hatred for the decisions and actions of the government. It made it easy to experience resentment toward neighbors, family and peers who seemed to be doing much better financially, exasperated by images and posts on social media where many were shown to be resilient and unaffected by the government shut down as they planned their vacations, broadcast their blessings, and shared their lavish daily life experiences, unfazed and indifferent to the plight of their followers.

For me, this would be the third Thanksgiving holiday I would spend without my children, grandchildren, and family. My older children have their own lives, making plans independent of their father, and I again felt excluded and alone. An uncle reached out to me, asking that I join him and others in my family for Thanksgiving, but the invitation came last minute. The trip would be a nine hour trek with potential snowstorms threatening the Appalachian Mountains I would have to navigate to travel to Kentucky. A few friends made last minute offers for me to attend their gatherings when they discovered I would once again spend Thanksgiving without my children and grandchildren. The hurt ran deep.

An opportunity to transport an exchange teacher to Virginia to see her family presented a new possibility, experiencing a place I have traveled through but never visited. Taking the teacher up on her offer, I booked a hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia and prepared to immerse myself in the history and culture of the most wealthiest country by Gross Domestic Product, and most powerful nation in the history of the world.

Thanksgiving is a time when many pause to reflect on their blessings and express gratitude. Yet, the history of Thanksgiving goes beyond a simple holiday meal. It is rooted in the story of the original colonists who faced hardship and found reasons to give thanks. For Christians, this season offers a powerful reminder to cultivate thankfulness in every circumstance—whether in lack or in plenty, in poverty or in providence. This post explores the origins of Thanksgiving and offers practical ways to express gratitude from a Christian perspective.

Traditional Thanksgiving meal on rustic table

The Early History of Thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving is often traced back to 1621 when the Pilgrims, English colonists who settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, shared a harvest feast with the Wampanoag people. These colonists had endured a harsh first winter, losing many to illness and starvation. Their survival was aided by the native people who taught them how to cultivate the land and gather food.

This feast was not just a celebration of food but a moment of gratitude to God for provision and protection. The Pilgrims’ faith shaped their understanding of thankfulness, recognizing that their survival was a gift from God despite the challenges they faced.

Over time, Thanksgiving evolved into a national holiday, but its roots remain deeply spiritual. The original colonists’ example encourages believers to maintain a heart of gratitude regardless of their situation.

My visit to the Jamestown site, where the first colonial settlement in America established by the English in 1607 proved to be a sobering experience. Jamestown, a small slither of island made so by a spit of sand that jutted from the mainland into the wide and deep James River, would become the first capital of the original colonies for nearly 100 years before being moved to Williamsburg, Virginia. I was reminded of things I had learned in high school, brutalities that occurred when the English were faced with impossible decisions in an unforgiving environment during the winter. Shortly after arriving, they would run out of food resources. Not knowing how to cultivate the land, they endured hunger and death. Bodies weakened by starvation were susceptible to diseases, and when new colonists arrived, they found themselves victims to the cannibalism the English had adapted to survive against the bitter cold of the Mid-Atlantic.

I examined the exhibits of the museum in Jamestown where they had gathered artifacts and remains over the past few years. Modern forensics allowed them to excavate the bones and arrange them in displays, and piece together the puzzles surrounding their life and last days. Analysis and impressive research technology revealed in those displays that before the first ships arrived carrying West Africans trafficked into the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, the English had carved the face and flesh of "Jane," a fourteen year old teenaged girl just days after she arrived with new colonists from England in 1609 or 1610, who were unaware of the plight of the colonists in Jamestown. Their horrific fate was sealed the moment they stepped foot in America.

It made me ask the question, "Where was their faith?" It also made me examine myself. GOD has provided me provision my entire life. Even when facing hardship, He has always ensured that I was warm in the cold months, and that I had substance to sustain my life. I have never been faced with a decision such as these English colonists. It reveals the state of their hearts, being subjected to such a test of human compassion, empathy, and humanity itself, to cause another to suffer while alive, for their own survival.

Scripture itself reveals the truth. The Word of GOD illuminates, and accurately exposes the condition of the hearts of the English colonists who arrived in Jamestown, and who would not be objective to the atrocities that would ensue once the ships from West Africa began arriving in 1619.

Psalms 37:25

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Had the English colonists truly trusted and believed in GOD, He would have provided them provision. If their hearts had been right, without malice, hatred and iniquity that presented occasion, the land would have produced plenty for them, and they would never have allowed anyone to be a slave in the New World.

A Christian Perspective on Thankfulness

From a Christian perspective, thankfulness is more than a polite gesture; it is a spiritual discipline. The Bible encourages believers to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This means being grateful not only when life is easy but also during trials and hardships.

Thankfulness acknowledges God’s sovereignty and goodness. It shifts focus from what is lacking to what has been provided. This attitude fosters peace, joy, and trust in God’s plan.

Christians are called to live out their gratitude by sharing their blessings with others, especially those in need. This reflects God’s love and generosity and strengthens the community of faith.

Woman holding an open Bible with a highlighted Thanksgiving prayer

Ten Ways Christians Can Express Gratitude for God’s Blessings

Expressing gratitude is an active choice. Here are ten practical ways Christians can show thankfulness and share their substance with others:

1. Start Each Day with Prayer of Thanks

Begin your day by thanking God for His blessings. This sets a grateful tone and reminds you to notice His goodness throughout the day.

2. Keep a Gratitude Journal

Write down specific things you are thankful for daily. This practice helps you focus on positive aspects of life and recognize God’s hand in everyday moments.

3. Serve Others in Your Community

Look for opportunities to volunteer at food banks, shelters, or community centers. Serving those in need is a tangible way to share your blessings.

4. Share Meals with Neighbors or Friends

Invite others, especially those who may be lonely or struggling, to share a meal. This builds relationships and expresses gratitude through hospitality.

5. Give Financially to Charities

Support ministries and organizations that help the poor and vulnerable. Giving financially is a way to multiply your blessings and show God’s love.

6. Offer Encouragement and Kind Words

Express gratitude by uplifting others with sincere compliments, prayers, or notes of thanks. Words can inspire hope and gratitude in others.

7. Practice Contentment in All Circumstances

Choose to be content whether you have much or little. Contentment is a powerful way to express trust in God’s provision.

8. Use Your Talents to Bless Others

Volunteer your skills, whether in music, teaching, or crafts, to serve your church or community. This honors God and blesses others.

9. Celebrate Thanksgiving with Intentional Worship

Gather with family or church groups to worship God through songs, Scripture readings, and testimonies of gratitude.

10. Advocate for Justice and Compassion

Stand up for those who are marginalized or oppressed. Advocating for justice reflects God’s heart and shows gratitude by working to improve others’ lives.

Community sharing a meal outdoors around a large table

Living a Life Marked by Gratitude

The history of Thanksgiving reminds us that gratitude is not dependent on circumstances but on recognizing God’s faithfulness. Christians can cultivate a thankful heart by practicing these ways to express gratitude daily. This attitude transforms how we view our blessings and challenges.

Gratitude leads to generosity. When believers share their substance with those less fortunate, they reflect God’s love and create a ripple effect of kindness. This season, consider how you can deepen your thankfulness and make a difference in your community.

Thanksgiving is more than a holiday; it is a lifestyle. Embrace a Christian perspective on thankfulness that honors God and blesses others every day.