From The Rector’s Desk

Thanksgiving Letter

I pray that this letter finds you in good health and preparing for the Thanksgiving season. I know that there are a few people preparing to travel to visit family and friends; others are preparing their home to receive guests. I hope that you are planning to make wonderful memories this Thanksgiving season that include attending worship.

The attitudes and expectations that we bring to this season make all the difference. Many years ago, Celeste Sibley brought her young children into a small restaurant for breakfast. It was about this time of year, and their home was buzzing and busy with Thanksgiving preparations. Celeste was running late that morning because the children had slept in.  She did not want them to be late for school, nor did she want to be late for work so a quick stop at the restaurant ensured everyone would start the day with a healthy meal. The place was crowded. They had to take separate seats at one of those old-time countertops. Little eight-year-old Mary sat at the far end of the line. When she was served her breakfast, she paused and called out to her mother in a loud voice shouting, “mommy don’t people ask the blessing in this place?” The room went silent. Her mother was embarrassed but before she could silence her child, a waitress said, “yes we do!” You give thanks. Mary bowed her head and to everyone’s astonishment, most of the people in the room joined her. Mary prayed: “God is great and God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. Amen.” Out of the mouths of babes.

Thanksgiving is the annual opportunity to pause and give thanks for many blessings in our lives. We are blessed to live in the country that we do. We are blessed with work and recreation. We are blessed with people that love us. We are blessed with those people who are committed to feeding the hungry and clothing the poor.

Taking a moment to say ‘thank you’ for all of our blessings can shift our attitudes and perspectives on our circumstances. May I encourage you to pause, to celebrate a sunrise or a sunset, perhaps even taking a walk-in a nearby park to enjoy the changing of the colors of leaves, lifting our eyes toward the top of the trees, and taking in the extraordinary view. Perhaps one model for the season could be keep your eyes lifted up to focus on the beauty of the moment wherever you may be.

We believe in a generous God therefore there is potential for us to be a generous people. More than twenty years ago, a former parishioner once told me that she tried to live with a ‘grateful heart,’ despite spending most of her childhood in the hospital as a result of many illnesses and living with a back injury from a fall in her teenage years. She endured. Later in life she developed lung issues and for some time, lived with cancer. Despite it all, she chose to wake up each day with an attitude of gratitude. She began each morning with the words, ‘I am going to make this a great day just in case it’s my last.’ When I questioned her about it, she said, ‘it is just my way of thanking God for sparing my life.’ Author George Herbert clearly lived with the same philosophy. He was observed praying, ‘Our Father, thou hast given us so much. Please also give us one more thing – a grateful heart.’

Now I understand that this can be a difficult season for some people: those who are grieving or lonely find this a tough time of year. Believe me, I empathize with those who have an ‘empty chair’ at the Thanksgiving table this year. I want you to know that my prayers are with you especially in your time of loss and grief. May I ask you to please be gentle with yourself. Try to live in the moment… whatever you need that to look like this year.

Over the years each of us discover that Thanksgiving celebrations do not need to be perfect. We simply need to try and come together with food, family, and fellowship. May I encourage you to seize the day and search out opportunities for love and laughter with those you enjoy the most.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Canon Dr. Stephen Hendry