Thankful Wall art

A Thanksgiving Reflection

What is it about holidays that brings Charlie Brown movies out of the woodwork? Everywhere we turn, it’s time for another Peanuts episode!

What is it about holidays that brings Charlie Brown movies out of the woodwork? Everywhere we turn, it’s time for another Peanuts episode! Leave it to “Chuck,” Linus, Lucy, and the rest of the crew to usher in memories of childhood and simpler times.

The Peanuts movies also give loveable Linus an opportunity to wax eloquent. My heart melts every time I hear him say, “And lo” as he shares the Christmas story in “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” But how many of us remember his Thanksgiving soliloquy in “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving?”

In the year 1621, the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast. They invited the great Indian Chief Massasoit, who brought ninety of his brave Indians and a great abundance of food. Governor William Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests. Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this:

‘We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land. We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice.”

Nearly 400 years have passed since that first Thanksgiving, but Elder Brewster’s words still ring true. We at MissionNext have so much to be thankful for – not only as an organization for an amazing 2023, but in our everyday lives. New babies, weddings, time with friends and family, travel around the world…the list could go on and on. God has richly blessed us, and we are grateful for each blessing – and that includes you!

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving 2023? We’d love to hear your story in the comments!

Picture of Meagan Davenport

Meagan Davenport

A business analyst and social media manager who loves to travel with the gospel in mind. Find her at meagandavenport.com or on social media @naanandmarzipan.

Picture of Nelson Malwitz, Founder, Chief Innovation Officer

Nelson Malwitz, Founder, Chief Innovation Officer

Nelson is the generic Evangelical baby-boomer. Born in 1946, raised in the C&MA, he attended Urbana ’67 in college. He holds an MS degree in Chemical Engineering and worked in R&D positions in American industry for 33 years. Nelson is an inventor with formal training in methods of creative problem-solving. He was a founding elder at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, CT (1982) and served in many leadership capacities of what is now one of the largest Evangelical churches in New England. In 1998 Nelson founded the Finishers Project, now MissionNext. Locally he attends a Torah study and serves as chairman of the Sewer Commission in his community to be a witness among unchurched leaders.

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