If reality TV crews had filmed the original Thanksgiving at Plymouth Colony in 1621, what would it have looked like?

Well, here’s the reality…

In the early 1600s, English Separatists wanted to form independent congregations that regarded Christ—not the British king—as head of the church. This was declared treasonous by King James I, who harried them out of the land.

In 1620, more than one hundred people crammed below deck of the small ship, Mayflower for 66 grueling days. On November 9, 1620, the Mayflower’s crew spotted land off Cape Cod. And on November 11, a compact for self-government, the Mayflower Compact was signed.

Though they’d found an ab

andoned village, winter was upon them; and the Pilgrims, weakened by their voyage, began dying. By the end of winter, 47 people—about half their original number—had perished.

A turning point came during the thaws of mid-March when a stranger entered the village and, in perfectly clear English, boomed: “Welcome!” The Pilgrims were dumbfounded. His name was Samoset, a Native American, an Algonquin Indian. They offered him brandy with a biscuit, butter and cheese, roast duck, and pudding—all of which he wolfed down.

Samoset had learned English from various fishing captains who had put into the Maine shore. Such contacts with Native Americans—especially the remarkable Squanto—saved the Pilgrims’ lives. April was corn planting month, and Squanto taught the Pilgrims to grow corn, planting pumpkin vines among the stalks. He also showed them how to stalk deer, find berries, and harvest beaver pelts.

Another Native American, Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag Tribe, signed a peace treaty with the Pilgrims on March 22, 1621, an agreement that was never broken by either side.

By the end of the summer, the Pilgrims, filled with gratitude, wanted to celebrate God’s goodness. Governor William Bradford announced a holiday. The only contemporary account of that first Thanksgiving was written by Edward Winslow, a leader of the Plymouth Colony:

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling ... so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as …served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

This three-day celebration wasn’t so much a holy day as a holiday—a harvest celebration that included games, contests, recreation, and lots of eating. It was never repeated, so it was hardly the beginning of a tradition. The first officially decreed Day of Thanksgiving didn’t occur until two years later, in 1623, when a providential rain saved the colony’s crops.

But the images have endured, and today—nearly 400 years later—we’re still indebted to these brave men and women who undertook, according to the Mayflower Compact, “for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian Faith” to plant a “civil body politic” on these American shores.

If Reality TV had filmed the scene …

We would see the courage of Christian worthies, coupled with the Providence of a God who piloted a small ship through billowing waves, directing it straight to an abandoned settlement, ready for use.

We would see the Lord’s goodness in bringing to them an unexpected ally speaking perfect English.

We would see newly-forged friendships, brimming with thanksgiving.

We would see the faith of daring dreamers that conquered all discouragements and a bravery that withstood a winter of dying.

And, we would see a God-given contentment that accepted hardship, bore sorrow, pressed onward, and believed in tomorrow.

This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah’s devotional magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your complimentary copy of Turning Points.