Thanksgiving around the world-- to remember God's bounty throughout the year!

A poem of gratitude to commerate 
Thanksgiving around the world--

to remember God's bounty 
throughout the year!

String the pearls of His love, 

string the garlands of His flowers--

stretch them out,

step into the sunshine

and leave behind the dark-- 

thanks to joy, to love, to peace of mind! 

After all, “thanks” is an action-- 

a “thanks” with just your lips would be flat,

because the true Thanksgiving
comes from the heart.
Be grateful at the start of a day,

not just for that one day

but for each new morning that brings 
light, rest and shelter, 
food and health, and so much more.

There is always a time for gratitude,

and a new beginning-- 

you are alive in those moments

when your heart is aware of its treasure!  

Thanksgiving is the pleasure of peace,

the celebration of work and a simple life--

a mutual celebration that speaks the poetry

of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime

and harvest, and the deep, deep connection 

of all things true and good with God. 

If ever thankless and believing there is

nothing to be thankful for,

he who sits at the table, morose and thankless

for the food thereupon,

is as if he had no food. 

Nothing is your own,

except that which you acknowledge

in deep appreciation,

of which thankfulness is the greatest part!  

A truly thankful heart

hath a continual celebration of goodness--

this is the eternal food!  

LOVE has more than one dwelling;

one in heaven, i.e., in harmony,

and the other in a gracious and thankful heart. 

It takes a purer love to praise God

for those unrealized blessings

than for those you once enjoyed,

or those you have now. 

And though I have no silver and gold,

I'll move in thanks, like an ever-flowing river!

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of a life, 

it turns what we have into enough, 

and adds more and more, 

it turns rejection into receptivity,

confusion yielding to order,

uncertainty to clarity.  Gratitude

makes sense of our life and loving,

brings peace for today and creates

a vision of unity for tomorrow--

Even though we thank God for the grace

we ourselves have received, it should be as easy

to give thanks to God, and to give praise

for the blessings given to those who need it most. 

Our gratitude should never sleep!

Do we not have the sunshine in the morning,

and the moonbeam at night?

Eva-Maria Hogrefe

November 2018

A poem for thanksgiving around the world!

A SONG OF PRAISE

Remember God's bounty throughout the year!
String the pearls of His love, 

string the garlands of His flowers,

stretch them out,

step into the sunshine

and leave behind the dark! 

Thanks to joy, to love, to peace of mind! 

After all, “thanks” is an action, 

 a “thanks” with just your lips
 would  be flat,

because the true Thanksgiving
comes from the heart.
Be grateful at the start of a day

not just for that one day

but for each new morning

that brings light,
 rest and shelter,

food and health, and so much more.

Dear LOVE divine, Thy goodness provides,

and is universal, 

belonging to all ages--and to all minds.

There is always a time for gratitude,

and a new beginning, 

you are alive in those moments

when your heart is aware of its treasure!  

Thanksgiving is the pleasure of peace,

the celebration of work and a simple life--

a mutual celebration that speaks the poetry

of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime

and harvest, and the deep, deep connection 

of all things true and good with God. 

If ever thankless and believing there is

nothing to be thankful for,

 he who sits at the table, morose and thankless

for the food thereupon,

is as if he had no food. 

Nothing is your own,

except that which you acknowledge

in deep appreciation,

of which thankfulness is the greatest part!  

A truly thankful heart

hath a continual celebration of goodness,

this is the eternal food!  

LOVE has more than one dwelling;

one in heaven, i.e., in harmony,

and the other in a gracious and thankful heart. 

It takes a pure love to praise God

for those unrealized blessings

than for those you once enjoyed,

or those you have now. 

And though I have no silver and gold,

I'll move in thanks, like an ever-flowing river!

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of a life, 

it turns what we have into enough, 

and adds more and more, 

it turns rejection into receptivity,

confusion yielding to order,

uncertainty to clarity.  Gratitude

makes sense of our life and loving,

brings peace for today and creates

a vision of unity for tomorrow--

Even though we thank God for the grace

we ourselves have received, it should be as easy

to give thanks to God, and to give praise

for the blessings given to those who need it most. 

Our gratitude should never sleep!

Do we not have the sunshine in the morning,

and the moonbeam at night?

Eva-Maria Hogrefe

November 2018