Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his faithful love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

A gentle nudge from the Lord in the form of Covid-19 led us to homeschool our oldest son for kindergarten this year. It wasn’t a path I was planning to take, but homeschooling has turned out to be a really good fit for us. The nature of how we came to this decision can only be contributed to God’s sovereign plan for our family. 

In our attempt at kindergarten history, we stumbled across a most fascinating Native American, Squanto. To sum it up for you, Squanto was part of the Patuxet tribe who lived in an area that eventually became Plymouth. He was invited to attend a feast on the boat of Thomas Hunt who then sailed off to England to sell him as a slave. While in England, Squanto learned English and determined to use his skills as an interpreter to be a peacemaker between Englishmen and Native Americans. He eventually made his way back to America and was a key factor in the survival of the Mayflower Pilgrims, who made their settlement in Squanto’s former home. Had it not been for him, the very first Thanksgiving as we know it may have never taken place. 

Squanto’s story is yet another reminder of the providence of God. Many times in our lives we don’t see or understand the circumstances we find ourselves in, but we can have peace knowing nothing takes place out of God’s control. Even in the darkest of times, we can offer up praise and thanksgiving, knowing he is always at work (Phil.2:13). 

As you celebrate Thanksgiving with your family, give thanks for the many areas that the Lord has shown his faithfulness. Put them on display in your home. Our family will write down things we’re thankful for on construction paper leaves and hang them from our Thanksgiving tree made by gathering sticks from the yard and placing them in a vase. Consider reading Psalm 107 together and remind your family that Jesus Christ, the very One who holds the universe together (Col.1:17), is the ultimate example of God’s faithful love towards us.