400 Years of Thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." And today on MoneyWise, we will do exactly that! Rob West celebrates God’s faithfulness and provision as we mark 400 years of Thanksgiving in America. In the year 1621, 400 years ago this month, the Puritans of Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts celebrated the first Thanksgiving. The Puritans had intended to get to the New World early in summer, but the crossing of the Atlantic was much rougher and took longer than expected. They didn’t arrive in the New World until November 1620. Planting was impossible and a harsh winter delayed the building of the first houses until late January. All of that resulted in what became known as The Starving Time for the Plymouth colony. One hundred and two Puritans had crossed over on the Mayflower. Nearly half of their number died that first winter due to disease and starvation. But spring finally came, and those who survived had established good relations with the Native Americans, who helped them plant crops that eventually became a fair harvest in the fall. That brings us to the first thanksgiving when the Puritans were moved to celebrate and praise God for their survival. Many have forgotten the reason the Puritans had dared to venture into the harsh New World in the first place: religious freedom. Persecuted for their faith in England, they fled to Holland first. But English authorities even pursued them there, leading many to undertake the perilous voyage to America. William Bradford would later write of their earliest days in America, "Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many." And Four hundred years later, we Christians in America still give thanks to God for His provision. We hope your day is as blessed as the first Thanksgiving. LISTENER QUESTIONS: On today’s program, Rob West answered the following listener questions: ●Is it worthwhile to pay an extra $50-100 per month toward your mortgage? ●If you’re selling your house but have no immediate plans to purchase another house, what should you do with the proceeds from the home sale? And are those proceeds taxable? ●Is it beneficial to continue working until your full retirement age? ●What should you do with funds in a 403B when changing jobs? ●Can you roll funds from a Roth IRA into another Roth IRA? RESOURCES MENTIONED DURING THIS PROGRAM: Sound Mind Investing. Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to [email protected]. Also, visit our website at MoneyWise.org where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app. Like and Follow us on Facebook at MoneyWise Media for videos and the very latest discussion! Remember that it’s your prayerful and financial support that keeps MoneyWise on the air. Help us continue this outreach by clicking the Donate tab on our website or in our app.