Moments at the Mill: Devotional Thoughts from Greg
Clark
Squanto
and Peace
Around
1608 a twelve year old Native American from the Patuxet
tribe was on a boat headed to England. This boy, later
known as Squanto, had no idea how radically his life
would change in the upcoming thirteen years. His choice
of peace would become a key element in the story of the
“First Thanksgiving.”
During the period from 1608 to 1621,
Squanto was taken to England, learned English, made
another trip back to America to assist in mapping out
the land, was kidnapped and taken to Spain, subsequently
was sold into slavery but then set free by a group of
monks, learned the story of Jesus Christ, spent three
more years as a household servant in England, and then
returned home to America only to find his tribe
completely eradicated by the white man’s smallpox.
Choosing peace over revenge, Squanto
assisted the group we know as the Pilgrims in learning
how to fish and plant crops. Over half of the Pilgrims
had perished the previous winter, but with Squanto’s
help they were able to enjoy a great harvest. Pilgrim
governor William Bradford wrote, “Squanto became a
special instrument sent of God for our good.”
One person can make a difference.
Experiences in your life can either make you bitter or
better. In the midst of heartache Squanto rose above
his past and helped ease the suffering of others. He is
worthy of our admiration.
