As we approach the beginning of the United States’ celebration of Thanksgiving, I can’t hep but recall one of my favorite Thanksgiving Songs.  It was released by Mary Chapin Carpenter in 2008 and the lyrics go like this:

Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table
From far and hear, we travel home
Blessed that we are able

Grateful for this sheltered place
With light in every window
Saying “welcome, welcome, share this feast
Come in away from sorrow”.

Father, mother, daughter, son
Neighbor, friend and friendless,
All together everyone in the gift of loving-kindness

Grateful for what’s understood
And all that is forgiven
We try so hard to be good
To lead a life worth living

Father, mother, daughter, son
Neighbor, friend and friendless,
All together everyone, let grateful days be endless.

This song is packed with both blessing and invitation.  Our lives, no matter how challenging, are incredibly blessed in comparison to 2/3 of our world.

WE ARE THE FEW WHO will eat on Thanksgiving, even if it isn’t turkey and all the fixings.
WE ARE THE FEW WHO have a shelter/home to live in.
WE ARE THE FEW WHO have tables and chairs to gather round.
WE ARE THE FEW WHO have means of mobility, be that car, public transportation, airplanes, trains or friends who can drive us.
WE ARE THE FEW who have running water, electricity, heat and means to cook a meal.
WE ARE THE FEW!

Perhaps, just perhaps, the invitation is for each of us to live our lives not only with gratitude, but with a willingness to welcome the less fortunate.  It’s not just about sharing the feast of Thanksgiving, but it’s also about sharing the abundance of our lives….to truly live gratitude and be blessing, to be HOPE for others.

What’s your personal “song” of thanksgiving?  And what is it that you can share?
What’s your personal “song” of thanksgiving?  And how do you live “thanks giving” year round, not just on one day a year?
What’s your personal “song” of thanksgiving?  And how do you try to “lead a life worth living”?

Blessing, hope…
Challenge, invitation…
Thanksgiving, “thanks living”….

Perhaps each of us can take these words and bring them to life for our world, which is in need of so much thanks living and HOPE!

Here’s the song link.  I hope you take 3 minutes to listen to it.

May your life, my life, our lives….be a testament to thanks living and HOPE….not just for those we know, but to our entire world!

Blessings and HOPE to you,

Sr. Debbie Blow, OP