 "Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life." Robert Louis Stevenson The definition of Thanksgiving Day in Webster's Dictionary is "a day appointed for giving thanks for divine goodness; as the fourth Thursday in November observed as a legal holiday in the United States..the second Monday in October in Canada. The settlers of 1674 had a celebratory feast to give thanks for arriving in the new world. This is a day usually focused on family and food, more low key than some holidays. It is a day that should remind us of our blessings and to be thankful for them. The practice of giving thanks for a meal has probably gone by the wayside in many households. But it is a lovely practice with the proper intention. When I worked at the YMCA Day Care with three year old children, before meals and snacks they would sing: "The Lord is good to me and so I thank the Lord for giving me the thing I need, the sun, the rain, and the apple seed." They sang from the bottom of their hearts and it was wonderful. "You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you." Joel 2:26 It is easy to become irritated if the newspaper is late, mail is misdirected, check-out line is slow, but put it in perspective. We live in a country where such services are taken for granted. Be thankful that we have them, don't become complacent. Awareness of these gifts and a nod of thanks won’t go amiss. "Karma" has become a commonly used word which means action and reaction. Karma means that you don’t get away with anything. "New Karma is being made all the time. When one acts with a positive motivation, goodness is furthered. When one acts out of negative motivation, negativity is furthered. We can recondition ourselves to act with wisdom...you are your own master. 'As you sow so shall you reap'“ Lama Surya Dass from "Awakening the Buddha Within." Thanksgiving, or giving thanks, will open our lives to further prosperity in every way. A smile begets a smile. Article by Judy Struna |
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