This past week, my husband and I had the privilege of visiting Plymouth while attending theological conferences in Boston. And it stirred something deep in my spirit. Standing at the Mayflower replica, walking through Pilgrim Memorial Park, and especially gazing up at the National Monument to the Forefathers, I was struck by the weight of their story.
These men and women knew suffering.
They knew loss, hunger, bitter winters, and burying half their community by the spring.
Gratitude is Chosen
And yet—they chose gratitude.
Not because life was easy.
But because their God was faithful.
Their gratitude was not sentimental.
It was sacrificial—rising out of hardship like worship carved from stone.
Gratitude in trials is not denial. It is defiance against despair.
The Pilgrims understood something we often forget:
Gratitude is Not a Reaction
Thankfulness isn’t a reaction to blessings. It’s a declaration of trust and a statement of the soul that God is good; even here, even now.
Their first Thanksgiving wasn’t a celebration of abundance. It was a celebration of providence.
They didn’t thank God because everything was ideal. They thanked Him because He had not let them go.
And that is the heart of gratitude in trials.
Scripture Reflection
“Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
—James 1:2–3
The Pilgrims lived this truth.
They didn’t give thanks for the suffering, but in the suffering, because God was shaping endurance in them. And He does the same in us.
A Personal Invitation
This Thanksgiving week, as you gather with loved ones or navigate the ache of empty chairs, remember this:
Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything is fine.
It’s about declaring that God is faithful even when everything isn’t fine.
So pause.
Remember.
Pray.
Give thanks.
Not because the journey has been easy
but because the Lord has been near.
Just as the Pilgrims built memorials of remembrance, we build gratitude into our bodies and hearts through small, intentional rhythms.
Visit the ShameRx Blog for Finding Gratitude in Holiday Shame
With tenderness and growing gratitude,
Denise