WRITEON FOR NOV 27
sister alies.
THANKS, GRACIAS, MERCI, THANK YOU...in any language it is a most blessed word. Gratitude even in distress, thanks even in adversity, and gracias when humbled by the gift of another. Ah, thank you is so sweet to the ears.
Throughout this past year many of us have suffered illness, loss of a loved one, loneliness, and even despair. But at the same time we have a winning football team, sunshine midst colder weather, and church communities trying to bring a message of peace and hope.
At the same time we suffer from distance from friends and relatives, we can't find just the right satisfaction in our job, or we are concerned deeply about local and national politics and policies.
We have many choices we can make in our daily life. Sometimes time seems to fly by, at other times we seem a prisoner to the long, dull, painful hours of day or night. It is precisely during these times that we have many opportunities to break out in joyful thanks for our many blessings! We will always have a choice to say thank you no matter how quickly our day seems to go. We know that that simple courtesy fills the heart of the other with gratitude as well. Hopefully it is then passed along, played forward.
John Ruskin said: “The question is not what we can scorn, or disparage, or find fault with, but what we can love, and value, an appreciate.” Tomorrow when you gather with those you love and those you disagree with, remember Ruskin’s advice…love, value and appreciate.
Along with the great William Shakespeare: “I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.” Many blessings on this day where we remember those who have gone before us, trying to learn to be neighbors, to trust each other, and to honor our commitments to one another. Our Native American people have suffered since that first T-Day of the breaking of these many goals. Believe it or not, there are still cases in court over broken treaties. Maybe I can’t do much about that but I can attempt to reach these goals with those who live in and around me…at least we can give it a try!
Hope you can join us at the jailhouse tomorrow @ 10AM for the service and meal for our prisoners. Perhaps a good place to start?
BLESSINGS.
