We are used to a thanksgiving celebration that evolved into a holiday that includes the following: a football game that started in 1934; a New York parade that started in 1924; the busiest shopping day that comes the day after; and most enjoy one of the nearly 50 million turkeys and pumpkin pies served that day.

This has become our tradition, but maybe we have lost sight of the history of our oldest holiday.

Four hundred years ago in 1619, the “separatists” from the Church of England resolved to leave to the New World. They stated, “We verily believe and trust the Lord is with us, unto Whom and Whose service we have given ourselves in many trials, and that He will graciously prosper our endeavors according to the simplicity of our hearts therein.”

One hundred and two pilgrims would leave in August 1620 for a miserable seven-week trip, and instead of landing in Virginia they would make land in Massachusetts at the beginning of winter. Nearly half of their number would not make it through the winter.

The following spring they still found themselves ill-prepared for life in a new land. They were shocked when an Indian named Samoset approached them, speaking in their own language that he had learned from British fishermen. He left and came back with a friend named Squanto who lived with the pilgrims and accepted their Christian faith.

The story of Squanto is such an amazing example of God’s providence that it needs to be told to children when you gather for your thanksgiving. Later they would meet Massasoit, chief of the Wampanoag Indians, and they would become close friends and allies.

Many of us might have a hard time celebrating a time of thanksgiving that falls after all that hardship. The pilgrims invited Massasoit and family to join them for a time of thanksgiving to God for seeing them through that first year. If you’ve ever had unexpected relatives show up for your Thanksgiving dinner, you can imagine the shock of the 50 surviving pilgrims seeing 90 Wampanoag Indians coming into the camp for the celebration. Thankfully, Massasoit and his braves showed up with five dressed deer, more than a dozen fat turkeys along with other foods. The celebration lasted three days, with games and competitions.

As our nation has gone through difficult periods there has always been time to thank God for his blessings and to seek His leading. During the American Revolution the Continental Congress issued eight separate national Thanksgiving Proclamations and seven separate proclamations for times of fasting and prayer. Our first national Thanksgiving occurred in 1789 with this congressional and presidential resolution, which declared in part:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor … Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th of November, 1789 … that we may all unite to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection.”

This tradition continued until Oct. 3, 1863, when President Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday at the urging of Mrs. Sarah Hale, who lobbied for this day to be an official holiday. This remarkable proclamation by Lincoln came at a pivotal point in Lincoln’s spiritual life. Three months earlier, the Battle of Gettysburg was fought, resulting in the loss of some 60,000 American lives.

Lincoln later explained: “When I left for Springfield, I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried by son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.”

Here is part of his proclamation:

“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God … No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, Who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”

Throughout our history we have turned to our creator with thanksgiving even in the darkest of times, confident that He is our hope in the future. More than that we acknowledge the blessings we have — living in a country where we have freedom to worship as we please along with peace and material blessings.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, remember to retain the original gratefulness to God that has always been the spirit of this, the oldest of all American holidays.

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Bob Shillingstad writes Faithful Observations for The Press every Saturday. Email Bob: bjshill@mac.com