Two Thanksgiving Lists
“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.” Psalm 100:3-4
Last week when I wrote my article for our church newsletter I encouraged our members to make out a Thanksgiving list, to identify the things they would give thanks for on Thanksgiving Day. On Sunday we had a guest speaker at church. Rev. Amy Cates likewise encouraged us to make out a Thanksgiving list but suggested we use the letters of the alphabet to do so. I decided last night I would follow my own advice and hers and make out my own Thanksgiving list. I chose to make two, one focusing on God’s Creation and the other on more general things in my life. Here’s what I came up with.
Creation Thanksgiving List: A-asters; B-butterflies; C-clouds; D-Denali National Park; E-Everglades National Park; F-ferns; G-grizzly bears; H-herons; I-Indian paintbrush; J-Jasper National Park; K-killdeer; L-lichen; M-mountains; N-northern lights; O-owls; P-pikas; Q-quail; R-rainbows; S-sea otters; T-trees; U-Upper Peninsula of Michigan; V-violets; W-waterfalls; X-xenogamy (look it up) ; Y-Yellowstone National Park; and Z-Zion National Park.
General Thanksgiving List: A-art; B-books, C-church; D-dreams fulfilled; E-education obtained; F-family and friends; G-grace; H-hope; I-imagination; J-Jesus; K-Kentucky (my home state); L-love; M-music; N-nature; O-opportunities to serve; P-photography; Q-quests to fulfill; R-regular meals (so many don’t have this luxury); S-senses to enjoy life; T-travel opportunities I’ve had; U-University of Kentucky basketball; V-vehicles to drive; W-water (millions do not have access to clean water); X-x-rays (I chose this one because X is hard and also to offer thanks for living in a time when we have made so many medical advancements); Y-youngsters; and Z-zoos and the research that takes place in many of them.
I share my lists with you not just to tell you what I’m thankful for but to encourage you to do the same. I suspect you’ll find that it’s not as easy as it might sound. Some of the letters are easy to come up with things to be grateful for, others are rather difficult. Still, it’s a wonderful and fun thing to do on Thanksgiving Day.
Finally, I want to thank all of you who take the time to read the Seeing Creation blog. It’s good to know that there are others out there who share my passion for God, Nature and Spirituality. I hope and pray you have a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving Day.
–Chuck