The Story of the Five Kernels of Corn

Thanksgiving Day in Central, Nov. 24, 2011

Why Celebrate Thanksgiving?

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

After 66 days at sea in the hold of the Mayflower, the Pilgrims set foot on land on Dec. 26, 1620 — 390 years ago — and began to establish Plymouth Colony.

They started building shelter but were overcome with disease.  That winter, 46 died.  In March, there appeared an Indian named Samoset who spoke English.  He returned a week later with Squanto who had lived for years in England and only just returned.  His tribe had been massacred, and he adopted the Pilgrims, teaching them to hunt, fish, plant, and trade with the Wampnoag Indians and their chief, Massasoit.

By the summer of 1621, things were much better.  New homes were built, trade with the Indians had been successful, and the harvest was plentiful.

The Pilgrims were grateful to God for His many blessings.  Gov. Bradford declared a day of Thanksgiving.

Chief Massasoit arrived early and brought along 90 Indians.  The Pilgrims feared the Indians would deplete their food supply before winter set in.  But the Indians brought with them five dressed deer and wild turkeys.  They helped with the preparations and taught the Pilgrims to roast corn kernels until they popped and made popcorn!

On that first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims provided vegetables from their gardens and wine made from wild grapes.  It was a wonderful event and lasted three days.

A month later, the first ship arrived from England with 35 new colonists but no supplies of any kind — no food, no clothing, or tools!

That winter, the colony went on half-rations.  Things got worse and worse.  It was a time of starving.

At one point, the daily ration consisted of five kernels of corn.

When the people of Jamestown faced a similar crisis a few years earlier, most of them starved to death.

But in Plymouth, the people turned to Christ.  By the spring, not one person had died!  The colony changed its policy of communal farming to private ownership of land.  As a result, the Pilgrims prospered and had bountiful harvests.

On the second Thanksgiving Day, the Pilgrims again enjoyed a great feast.

The first course was a plate which was empty, except for five kernels of corn, lest anyone should forget.

Today, many Americans begin their Thanksgiving meal with five kernels of corn to help remember all we have to be thankful for…

Here in Central, we have so many things to be grateful for, and we too thank God for all His many blessings.  We thank Him for family and friends…  For our health and our homes…  We thank Him for our country, our city, and our school system… We thank Him for our soldiers, airmen, Marines, and sailors who guard us day and night in far corners of the earth.

We thank Him for all His untold blessings, and we thank Him for His promises, especially His promise of salvation.  Yes, we in Central have much for which to be grateful on this Thanksgiving!