238 - Thanksgiving Day

November 20, 2001

I am thankful that my holiday will be the pretty much the same as always. I am thankful that my family members who live far away are unafraid to travel: my daughter and her new husband from Los Angeles, my sister and her husband from Boulder, my brother and his family from Buffalo. I know we are at war, but the ration coupons and body counts of past conflicts haven't been evident. I know there is suffering here, there is suffering in many parts of the world. Still, we are given the opportunity this Thanksgiving Day to focus not only on our mental and physical recovery, but on the ways we can make our gratitude manifest.

Two Hundred Thirty-Eight

Thanksgiving Day

We must thank You, Source of Abundance; We must not hold back our blessing,
Making mourning and fear the bitter feast
That offers no sustenance for our recovery.

We must thank You, overcoming terror,
Noticing again Your daily gifts;
They link us to life, to family, to community,
As we affirm the variety of our gratitude.

We thank and bless You for hope's bounty,
A filling banquet to replenish our spirits;
We thank You for the opportunity of giving,
As we reach out, we are nourished.

We sanctify this day of our nation's thanks
As we pledge ourselves to Your service,
As we pray and work and wait for peace,
A time when all voices will join in harmony.

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