With all the scary things going on in the world right now, it is easy to forget that there are still plenty of good things too both small and large — a bright blue sky, a gorgeous sunrise, a starry night, fresh snow, a garden, purring cats, silly chickens, a spouse who loves me, bicycles, friends, family, books, lots and lots of books.
When I take the time to think about it I am filled with joy and gratitude. It is kind of sad that we need a day to remind us to be thankful, but it is also pretty awesome that there is a day set aside to do just that. Whether or not you are celebrating Thanksgiving today, don’t forget to pause now and then to recollect the good things, the things that sustain us in times of uncertainty and struggle, the things that bring us together.
Be safe. Do good. And thank you for being part of what I am grateful for.
Perhaps the World Ends Here
By Joy Harjo
The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat
to live.
The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.
We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.
It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.
At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.
Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.
This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.
Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.
We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here.
At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.
Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.
Happy Thanksgiving.
I love that verse. It is so appropriate for today.
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Thanks Brian Joseph! glad you enjoyed the poem and I hope you had a wonderful celebration!
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I love that poem, and have posted it before, too! I have both my kids home, and we are having a very happy Thanksgiving. Hope yours is wonderful all day.
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Jeanne, it’s a good poem! Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday, so glad!
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You are right to remember what remains good after such a grim year. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
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Thank you Ian! It is easy to forget the good things when there have been so many not so great things this year.
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Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for your blog, among other things. Thank you!
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Helen, aw shucks, thanks! 🙂
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Good point. We do tend to focus a lot on the negative. It’s a beautiful crisp but sunny day here today to I shall go out for a walk and celebrate the beauty in nature
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BookerTalk, I hope you enjoyed your walk! It sounds like it was a beautiful day!
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We spent Thanksgiving down the street at the house of one of my nieces (selfishly thankful that we didn’t have to drive!). On the list of Things I’m Thankful For, my five-year-old-soon-to-be-six-years-old grandniece Grace wrote: Everyone Came. I think she nailed it. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Joan, sounds like a wonderful day! And yup, Grace got it right! Little kids are so good at saying some really amazing things!
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Hope you are enjoying the Thanksgiving Holiday, Stefanie! You are right there is a lot to be thankful for and it’s good to remember those things. Thank you for sharing the poem – that is lovely!
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Thanks Iliana! It was a wonderful day. I hope yours was too! Glad you liked the poem 🙂
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Happy Thanksgiving to you and Bookman! I hope you both a had a wonderful holiday and I am sure Bookman cooked some amazing food! Thats a beautiful verse and the simple of act of living under blue sky and a starry night with friends, books and food, is perfection! We do not have to ask for more than this!
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Thanks Cirtnecce, we had a wonderful day. Bookman made enchiladas and we had pumpkin pie made from pumpkins from the garden. Glad you enjoyed the poem. It is right to be thankful for the good things even in the midst of so many bad things. It is the good things that give us strength and keep us going!
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Very nice sentiments and it is always a good and happy thing to count our many blessings. Hope those enchiladas were yummy!
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Danielle, they were delicious! 🙂
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Lovely poem, Stefanie. Thanks for sharing.
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Glad you liked it!
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