We all know the
“feel good”” side of Thanksgiving – turkey, yams, pumpkin pie, football,
turkey again, one of the Uncles with a Pilgrim hat on. We hear about
Squanto and how he educated the Pilgrims on planting properly. We hear
about the “Big Kumbaya” when the Indians and Pilgrims sat down and ate turkey
from Strack’s while watching the Lions battle the Cowboys on CBS sports…
Here’s something that perhaps you did not know: The Pilgrims
made seven times more graves than huts. They came here sick and hungry
after sailing form 66 days on a ship nothing like Carnival Cruise Lines. The Mayflower
carried 102 pilgrims to the New World in search of freedom over chiily waters
searching for a land that would provide them with food and a government that
would ensure their freedoms. They reached our shores on November 11,
1620. 47% of them died before Christmas Day. The harsh conditions
of the 66 day journey took its toll on their bodies. Lack of adequate
drinking water, lack of sanitation, spoiled food supplies, and different types
of disease lead to death for almost half of the travelers within the first few
weeks of arrival. They had no crops to harvest and had little skill in
the wild. An argument could be made that they were the most impoverished
Americans in history, yet they set aside a day of thanksgiving. That
is the real meaning of the holiday. It took an act of congress and
President Lincoln making a proclamation in 1863 that the last Thursday in
November would be a national day of thanksgiving on an annual
basis.
We get to
teach. We get to be a Principal. We get to work with kids. We
get to do those things; we don’t ”have to” do those things. Sometimes those 900+ kids can get under your
skin. Give thanks. Sometimes they try your patience. Give
thanks. Sometimes you may wonder of you are ever going to get
through. Give thanks. Sometimes they may just frustrate
you. Give thanks. The reason we get to do (not have to do)
what we do is because of the kids. Take them out of the equation and we
are all in another line of work. We get the privilege of the
chance to make a difference in the lives of kids at least 180 days per
year. Privilege? Yep, that’s what I wrote. There are
thousands of others who are waiting their chance to get to do what we do.
Don’t take it lightly. Give thanks for the opportunities before
you.