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| WINGS Book Study Group: Tue, 12:00 PM
Wednesday "Faith Lift" Meditation: 7:00 PM Table Talk Thursday (Zoom): 12:00 PM
Exodus Class (Zoom): Thur, 3:00 PM
Sunday Service: 10:45 AM
Sunday Social (Zoom): 12:00 PM |
| | | | | Hi, Everyone!
Oh my, it is the week of Thanksgiving and what could be a more appropriate topic than gratitude and thankfulness? However, this year is most likely very different for all of us. It also may give us some conflicts in our thoughts. We might think, “I am grateful that I am well but not grateful I cannot travel or see my family, friends or loved ones. I am grateful to be safe in my home but not grateful to be here alone. I am grateful for my financial stability but have difficulty reconciling that with the struggles of others I see around me.” The list of dilemmas could go on and on. However, we can be at peace knowing God’s got this! We don’t have to understand things to accept that they are the way they are, and we don’t have to get mired in the weeds of “why.” I find that those kinds of mental exercises are not productive. They only serve to distract me from my own blessings and my own gratitude and staying in gratitude is one sure way to stay consciously connected to God.
According to Eric Butterworth in his wonderful book, Spiritual Economics, “Thanksgiving is not a reactionary emotion but a causative energy.” That reminds me of Paul’s statement in the Bible, “In all things give thanks” (I Thessalonians 5:18). This tells me I must start with gratitude as a springboard to greater things. In every situation and condition, gratitude can be found. Butterworth says that there is “always an all-sufficiency even within the insufficiency.” Paul did not say to be grateful for the situation or condition, he said to be grateful in the situation. Gratitude, like happiness, is a feeling and we can bring it forth from within at any time. It is not dependent on outside circumstances.
Another idea that comes to mind at Thanksgiving time is the idea of blessing. Blessing someone or something is a powerful energy. It means to “confer prosperity upon.” So, since this a Universe of thought, how I think about something is what really matters. We are always projecting thoughts toward everything we see, have, and hold. Many times, these thoughts are limiting thoughts: we may see someone or a group of folks in a difficult situation on TV or perhaps in our everyday movements and we can think thoughts of overcoming toward them, or perhaps we feel pitying thoughts about them. Powerful thoughts of overcoming or of blessing toward them will help so much more. We can bless our health, our home, our comforts, cars and food. All these blessings will help our prosperity and blessing thoughts toward others will help them. Hmm, I think I hear you asking, “How will my blessings help anyone else?” The power of blessing multiplied the loaves and fishes when Jesus used this powerful practice to feed the multitudes. As I bless what I have and my abundance increases, I will have more to spare and more to share. Remember the baskets were not empty after the multitudes were fed and there was even more to share. As we bless ourselves and our surroundings, it is not that we do something to these things; rather, it is a correction of the thoughts we are projecting concerning them.
So, this Thanksgiving is a good time to treat yourself well, make some food that you like. Remember, the tradition belongs to you. Set your table attractively the way you like it (we always have candles on our table for every meal) and even though you love “Aunt Sally” you don’t have to do it her way (just make sure she can’t see your table in the Zoom call) and enjoy the day!
As I mentioned before, in the beginning of 2014, after I had left full time teaching and both of my parents had made transition, we decided to make a new tradition for Thanksgiving and visit a different place in the United States each year for the week of Thanksgiving. Some of the places we visited were Charleston, New Orleans, Sedona, and Williamsburg. We made a new tradition of going on a horse-drawn carriage ride on Thanksgiving Day in each place. We made it for three out of four. The only Thanksgiving wherein I could not find a carriage ride in was Sedona (but, oh yeah, we took the helicopter ride there that I had shown to you last week).
So, when changes come to our traditions around holidays, we can make a choice. We can either feel unhappy that things are not they way they were or else we can make a new tradition. This year, we had planned to visit San Diego. Perhaps we’ll go next year or maybe somewhere else. Instead, this year, we will be home eating our favorite foods, cooked our way! For you, this year may be different and maybe next year we will return to our traditions--or not. Who would have imagined this situation a year ago? For me, I feel guided to stay in today and enjoy sharing my photos of past carriage rides on Thanksgiving Day with you and feel grateful for those experiences and grateful for all of you. A year ago, I did not think I would be writing my 35th WING-ed Words Essay and that we would not be together at WINGS or in our Church--but here we are! Gratefully, next year I believe that in these respect, we will be different!
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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81007092426?pwd=SlUrRzU3MWhpZEx2bW96NTNlbW1tZz09
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Peace, Love and Gratitude
Cynthia
Todays
photos are of our family’s Thanksgiving Day carriage rides. The first
two are from Charleston, SC and the next is from New Orleans, LA. The
last photo is from Williamsburg, VA. That one was the coldest, brrr!
But we still gave thanks and continue to give thanks this year! |
| | | | | | | | | | | Your Weekly Affirmation:
“I AM FINE, FOR I AM GOD’S BELOVED CHILD. YOU ARE FINE, FOR YOU ARE GOD’S BELOVED CHILD. WHATEVER HAPPENS, WE WILL BE FINE BECAUSE GOD’S WILL FOR US IS GOOD AND ONLY GOOD AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.”
THANK YOU, GOD! |
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