Why Give Thanks?

I was explaining to my six year old what Thanksgiving was about. How the first settlers to America lived through a harsh and unexpected winter. Many of their numbers died because of the elements they were unprepared for. How they were befriended by the Native Americans who taught them to plant and grow food, and shelter from the elements.

At the end of the first year the settlers and the Native Americans sat down as one and shared a simple meal to celebrate the success of their first year and making it through sometimes, unbelievable odds. In those first months of that first year it took courage and determination, it took faith and most of all it took acceptance, trust and belief in others.

How did those same Native Americans suddenly become savages and less than human? How did they become the enemy in their own land? Have we come further today or do we still only see the differences today that we saw then? We should give thanks for everyone no matter their skin colour or language, sex or religion. Life is too short a ride to waste it on the grumblings of petty differences.

Give thanks, not opinion.