In 1620, the Pilgrims left Plymouth England on the Mayflower.

We typically think about the Pilgrims once a year when Thanksgiving rolls around. And then it’s usually about the great feast they had with the Indians. End of story. But did you realize that the story—and the importance—of the Pilgrims is more than that? The Pilgrims left us a legacy not just of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, but of the freedom to worship as we please each and every Sunday.

In 1608, it was apparent to this group that they could no longer live in England and worship as they were told. They wanted to worship in a church that placed its authority solely in the Bible. They longed for the opportunity to choose their own church leaders by a common vote. So they left for Holland in order to live by the principles expressed in 2 Corinthians 6:17: “Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.”

After 12 years, the group decided they had to move again because of the hard life and discouragement that they had found in Holland. Even in Holland, the Pilgrims discovered that they were losing the simplicity and purity of lifestyle and worship that they wanted. So they returned to England, and on this day in 1620, 102 Pilgrims set out for America in search for a better life for their children and for the freedom to worship as they pleased.

Because of the Pilgrims’ determination to worship and live as they deemed right in God’s eyes, we now enjoy the freedom of religion. America’s founding fathers saw the importance of religious freedom and made sure that was preserved in the Constitution. We can worship how we please, in whatever church we deem appropriate, without any thought of persecution or danger.

You can thank the Pilgrims for being willing to “earnestly search” for God.

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1).

To Do

If you can, read more about the Pilgrims. Write down three things that you appreciated most about this group of people.

Also on this day

Today is Collect Rocks Day!

1782—The Great Seal of the United States was impressed on a document to negotiate a prisoner-of-war agreement with the British. It was the first official use of the impression.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.