This is the week, isn't it, when we are encouraged to think about our blessings. I tend to do that all the time, but at Thanksgiving especially.
I happen to be reading the book The Tortilla Curtain right now. The setting is the Los Angeles area, and the main characters are of two worlds: an upwardly mobile, spendthrifty Caucasian couple, and a desperately poor, homeless Mexican couple who did not follow legal channels upon entering the U.S. The story tells of these two worlds colliding. It's a story of contrasts, smugness, hypocrisy, and fear.
I thought I knew how I felt about the illegal alien situation until I started reading this book. If you think you know how you feel, I suggest you read it too.
I believe that this week is an excellent time for me to be reading this book. It not only confuses me on the issue of illegal immigrants, it also reminds me that while I'm indeed blessed with abundance, I am charged by the faith I believe in to share those blessings. I live between the two worlds of the very wealthy and the desperately poor. I have more than enough; and I believe in my heart that all I'm entitled to is enough, if that.
A couple of years ago, my Sunday School class leader charged us with writing a Thanksgiving Psalm. Here is mine. I give it to you with my prayer that you are blessed with abundance as I am, and that you remember (as I must) that we are blessed so that we might bless others.
For all the wonders of the Earth
I thank you, precious Lord.
For what better or majestic home
Could I ever ask you for?
May I always remember
That' we're all family here.
With you, our heavenly father,
We must hold each other dear.
Thank you for all people, Lord,
Of every race and kind,
Of every lovely color
That in your human rainbow shines.
But most of all, dear Father God,
Thank you for your son.
Our savior, Jesus Christ, the King,
Your own anointed one.
He gives us hope eternal.
He teaches us to love.
With him we'll be in Glory
In our mansion home above.
For every single blessing, Lord,
I give you thanks and praise.
You are my hope, my peace, my heart,
My God of love always.
***
Now, here's a real poem by a real poet who isn't afraid to write from her heart.
And now, Sophie would like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving week. She got a new hairdo yesterday, and she's just dying to show it off. Or is that her mama who's dying to show it off?
Smile, Sophie! You're on SuSu's Camera.
This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 11/19/2007, Gayle said ...
Thank you for your kind comment. Yes, I am a huge fan of Larry McMurtry...and yes, Lonesome Dove is an incredible book. I think he understands women more than most male writers.
I appreciated your poem and the poem you shared. It sounds like you had a great weekend. I thoroughly enjoy black gospel and listen to it regularly for inspiration.
Happy Thanksgiving! Gayle
On 11/20/2007, Daisy Cottage said ...
Susan, what a BEAUTIFUL POEM! Thank you so much for sharing your words with us! And I hope that you and your family have a blessed and very Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for the blessing that you are to me.
xo,
Kim
On 11/20/2007, Nan said ...
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful words! This time of year is truly a time to be grateful for all of our blessings. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
On 11/20/2007, bj said ...
Beautiful poem and Sophie is so precious.
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
bj
On 11/20/2007, Pam said ...
That was a very good post. I really loved your poem - and the poem you linked to was quite remarkable and profound - thanks for the link.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family (and of course Sophie!)
On 11/20/2007, Georgina said ...
Sophie is so beautiful with her new haircut. It has been raining for two days here, so my dogs couldn't go out: imagine a combination of being short and having too much hair, impossible to let them go out. I think they want to be like Sophie in days like these.
A lovely poem Susan.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your famlily!!!
On 11/20/2007, The Carolina Quilter said ...
Thank you for the beautiful postcard and the Thanksgiving poem and Sophie is beautiful!
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