Gratitude and Thanksgiving

     “Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God…Sing to the Lord with Thanksgiving!” I have never counted the times the Bible admonishes us to be grateful, to thank and praise God, but it’s a lot. Thanksgiving and praise are a major motif in the Psalter, ancient Israel’s hymn book. And […]

Gratitude Doubled

Yesterday I experienced the most unlikely, most wonderful thing that has ever happened. I carefully extended my sanitized hand through the small, round opening in the incubator and, with my forefinger, gently touched the cheek of my brand new great-granddaughter, just 18 hours old. And then I did it again, reached through the small, round […]

A Grateful Man

I knew it was coming some day but never imagined that it might actually happen. As of January 1, 2016, I am fully retired. For the first time since September 1960, I am no longer employed as a minister and no longer responsible for the life of an institution. I worked as a Presbyterian minister […]

Some Thoughts on Gratitude & a Prayer of Thanksgiving

    It doesn’t have to be the blue Iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot.. just pay attention, then patch a few words together.. this isn’t a contest, but the doorway into thanks… – Mary Oliver, Praying It begins with simply paying attention, noticing, seeing the countless gifts we are given every […]

Keeping a Good Thanksgiving: Part 7

Part 7: Thou’st Made the World Too Beautiful Poets remind us to pay attention. It’s one of the reasons to read poetry. They see things most of us miss because we are so busy, in a hurry always to get to the next appointment, the next luncheon engagement, the next item on our full and […]

Keeping a Good Thanksgiving: Part 6

Part 6: “What a View!” “Gratitude isn’t what you give in exchange for something: it’s what you feel when you are blessed – blessed to have family and friends who care about you, and want to see you happy. Hence the joy from Thanksgiving.”                 ~ Will Schwable, […]

Keeping a Good Thanksgiving: Part 5

Part 5: What You Feel When You are Blessed I want to now reflect on gratitude and giving thanks. Thanksgiving requires people, food, and the practice – the discipline – of gratitude. When I was a child I had to be forced to say “thank you.” The situation was usually this: a birthday card arrived […]