I believe that people are put into situations for a reason.
God will put you into a bad situation so that something good will come out of
it. Even the very foundation of the USA proves this. Columbus discovered
America and for a few years countries came here to get resources that they
could sell and use back in their country. Squanto, an Indian, was taken from
his tribe to live as a slave in the home of one of those people. There he
learned to speak English and earned favor and was sent back to America. But he
had to live in another tribe as his was killed off by a disease that would have
claimed him too, if he had not been taken away. In that tribe he taught others
to speak English.
Soon after that, the Pilgrims arrived to escape to religious
freedom from England were the government was telling them how to worship God.
They were not ready for the harsh winters and had little knowledge of farming.
Many of them died. They were about to give up and return to England when one of
Squanto's friends came upon them. The Pilgrims had settled down in the spot
where Squanto's previous tribe had been. He introduced them to Squanto and his
Chief. Through them they were taught how to survive the winters in what would
later be called Massachusetts and how to farm. From there the national holiday of
Thanksgiving, thanking God for their survival in the new world, it's not really
about the turkey, was created.
From that the USA was born. A country that has fought for
freedom ever since. We have fought to keep ours and to help others get their
freedom. People ask us for help and can come to us to live free. In World War
II we went to war to help other countries and the Jewish to live and to worship
as they thought God would want them to. Jewish people came to live here to escape
the death sentences that the Nazi's had for them in Germany.
All this goodness to the world cameo about from a bad
situation. When Squanto was kidnapped to be a slave. Because he came back
speaking English, he unknowingly helped create the USA that has bought freedom
to so much of the world and gave those that could find freedom in their own
country a place to go. This may seem like a late Thanksgiving day message but
it's really one we need to keep in mind everyday and to give thanks to God for
creating the United States of America.
Rick L. Phillips
