"We pray for the big things, and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not so small) blessings.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, rejoice; show patience and consideration to all, for the Lord is always near. Let nothing make you anxious; but with prayer, and by supplication, and with thanksgiving, let your needs be made known unto God; and the peace of the Lord, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds, in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:4-7
"I do invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union."
Abraham Lincoln, Proclamation of Thanksgiving, Washington D.C., October 3, 1863
“Man has places in his heart which do not yet exist— and into them enters suffering, in order that they may have life.”
Léon Bloy
"Remember us, O Lord, in thy loving kindness and tender mercies, as ever they have been from old."
Psalm 25:6
Please remember to feed the least of His creatures, the birds and animals, and of course His children. What you do for the least of these, you do for Me.
Bring comfort and fellowship to the hearts of those you meet, especially those impoverished by fear and isolation, trials and afflictions, with a kind word and a smile and acts of mercy. Each of us has our burdens and troubles to carry. And it is our duty and joy and freedom to lessen the troubles of others, out of acceptance and thankfulness for His love, of those who are unworthy, like us.
I remember all of you in my thoughts and prayers, as always, my brothers and sisters in the Lord. And I give thanks for you and your goodness and your efforts to walk in His paths.
Let us commend ourselves to His merciful forgiveness, and trust our futures to His loving kindness and tender mercy. Let us permit ourselves to be fashioned to His will, in our commitment to His gospel, not for His sake, but for ours, as He wisely commanded us.
Be kind to those who are around your table today, even those who may be 'difficult.' And pray for His mercy and enlightenment to give a more acceptable example to His children, if that difficult one is you.
Do not wait for God to show you the consequences of your sinfulness and waywardness and pride. Ask for His forgiveness and mercy now, at this moment, and in thankfulness, never turn back.
Need little - Want less - Love more. For those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.
