Thanksgiving 2012

Jesus said, "I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, `What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:25-33

I Am Thankful

I am thankful for the little girl
who demands to call her grammy
and then who says pop pop
the whole time we're on the line.

I am thankful for three little girls
now grown and living life laughing
they once tore up the living room
with their dancing and had to cheer.

I am thankful for their beauty, their kindness
my fierce and gentle babies became warriors
women who take the care and defense of others
to heart and love with reckless abandon.


I am thankful for the interruptions
every day is full of people and needs
once impatient and frustrated
now grateful for contact and voices.

I am thankful for the many adventures
the highways and byways we have traveled
together we have gotten lost and spun
on diner stools we launched our family.

I am thankful for warm touch and forgiveness
that is your gift to me daily along
with love and laughter friendship my dear
amazing and wonderful I am thankful for you.


I am thankful for the deep wrinkles
formed by worry that was of no use
they reminds me to offer God the worry
and look to the lilies and the birds.

And I am thankful for the strong winds
that blow by my window this morning
cleaning the air and singing new songs
of God's love and care for everyone.