It had been a long, difficult voyage, but the Pilgrims had finally reached the New World. They stumbled off the Mayflower starving and seasick and fell to their knees giving thanks for reaching the end of their journey. It wasn't long until the Pilgrims discovered the people of this new land and became friends with none other than … Kamehameha, King of Hawaii?

What would Thanksgiving be like if the Pilgrims had landed on Hawaii? Perhaps instead of turkey, traditional dinners would include luau kalua roasted pig and instead of cranberries, pineapple. I get the giggles when I picture the Pilgrims seated in the sand with leis around their necks, eating poi.

As funny as it sounds, thinking of Thanksgiving in these terms might remind us of what this Christian holiday is really about. So often Thanksgiving is clouded with images of autumn or by the pressure of creating the lightest stuffing or cheesiest casserole dish. I often find my heart blackened with pride, straining to recreate the perfect New England atmosphere. During this holiday that is supposed to be full of thanks and joy, I often find myself stressed because the decorations aren't just right.

But that's not what the Pilgrims wanted us to remember about Thanksgiving. They set aside a day that would remind us to be thankful for family and for the blessings God has provided for us. After the death of so many loved ones that first year, the Pilgrims were grateful for their lives and for the gathering of family. And after surviving a harsh winter, meeting their Native American friends, and learning how to tame the land, they were also grateful for the harvest and the abundance with which God gave it. Whether they landed in Plymouth or Maui, the principles would have been the same.

I have talked to several couples this year that celebrate Thanksgiving as modern pilgrims. Although their settings are not the New England atmosphere that most of us Americans dream of, these families have thrown away standards of perfection, and reminded us that Thanksgiving is more than just a setting. Through their unusual circumstances, they have discovered what it means to give thanks.

During most Thanksgiving holidays, Bob and Kristin Eakin of Newport Beach, Calif., and their four children can be found playing on the crystal beaches of an island paradise. They literally pull up their roots and travel to a new land, giving thanks for their blessings in the ocean breezes of Hawaii.

When Bob married Kristin and they established their own family, the Eakins tried the traditional Thanksgiving with a big dinner, "but we've totally gotten away from that," Bob says. "My wife would be in the kitchen all day, and I hated that because we didn't get any family time."

The Eakins discovered that the pressure of cooking the "big dinner" was keeping them from appreciating what was most important. So now they purposely leave their home behind each year to give them a physical reminder. Bob says. "In Hawaii, there's no big cooking for my wife. There's no pressure. We just spend undistracted time together as a family."

Whether the rest of us can make it to Hawaii by the end of November or not, there's a lesson here to be learned by all of us, no matter where we celebrate.

Bobbie Thornton is a good example of someone who has learned to give thanks for God's provision of family and blessings under her given circumstances. She lives wherever her husband, Tony, is stationed in the Navy.

This year the Thorntons are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving in Italy, but last year, they were in Japan. No one on base had access to an oven, so the group bought a "hot and spicy" turkey from Popeye's Chicken—not exactly the American ideal for the holiday. But Bobbie saw through the ideal to real thankfulness.

"The joy of being in the military during Thanksgiving," Bobbie says, "is that you feel like the Pilgrims and Indians did on that first Thanksgiving. All of us [on base] barely know each other and yet we gather together, bring our favorite dishes...and share our day really getting acquainted for the first time."

One military tradition for Thanksgiving is called "Adopt a Sailor," which allows servicemen and women who are stationed far from family to find a place to observe the holiday and a family to celebrate with. "We want to make sure everyone has a place to call home," Bobbie says. "Giving thanks during this time touches my heart because when our service members are gone, we realize how much they are missed and how thankful we are for them."

Debra Niemand of Ontario, Canada, also understands what it means to be a modern-day pilgrim. For over eight years Debra and her family have lived far from their original South African home. But this year Thanksgiving will be extra special—for the first time the Niemands will be giving thanks for becoming citizens of Canada.

"I'm so grateful to be living here," Debra says. "The crime in South Africa is very high, but it's not that way here. The Canadians don't realize how good they have it."

Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated much the same as it is in the United States; although, the holiday is attributed to the country's founder, English explorer Martin Frobisher, instead of the Pilgrims. In 1957, Parliament announced that the second Monday in October would be "a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada is blessed."

"Each year we decorate with fall leaves and pumpkins," Debra says, "but most of all we celebrate the gift of our family. It's often a time of making amends and being thankful for so much we often take for granted. It's a great excuse to get the family together."

The Niemands keep a tradition of going for a walk together after dinner and before dessert in order to enjoy the colors of the Canadian hardwoods. They bring a video camera along to capture the yearly changing of the leaves and of their children.

Perhaps we need to step away sometimes from our normal Thanksgiving routine in order to remember the holiday's purpose. This year when the turkey dries out or the bread won't rise, think about Thanksgiving in Hawaii. Or Canada. Or even Japan, for that matter. Maybe even consider using decorations from one of these countries. But most of all, let's remember that Thanksgiving is more than the setting or the ideal, and give thanks for the things that really matter.