Thanks Giving

Remember the stories from grade school surrounding  Thanksgiving, about pilgrims and Indians and a grand feast? The truth is, the pilgrims were sick and ill-equipped to take on the wilderness of the New World, and without the Indians, they would have certainly starved. It was Abraham Lincoln who created an official holiday for Thanksgiving. It was 1863 during the Civil War, and the country was low, with no end in sight for the war. President Lincoln called on Americans to give thanks for blessings, while also acknowledging the nation's suffering. He asked for healing and unity. The holiday proclamation wasn't about eating a grand feast for some. It was about a bigger concept of feeding the spirit of a war-torn country. 

In these modern times, we are surrounded by blessings and suffering. Over the last few weeks, I've watched as individuals, organizations, and communities have dispelled the notion that we don't "take care" of each other any more. GoFundMe accounts have sprung up in order to provide community meals. Children are making bracelets and dog walking to give money to charities. Restaurants are giving away food a day or two each week. My county first responders have taken on the task of weekend backpacks for kids which used to come from Harvesters. 

Regardless of the news, we are a nation of givers. Many good things happen every day - so many people quietly give to make someone else's situation better. I have always been surrounded by helpers. I don't think it is just because I've lived in very small towns where I know most folks. It is because at our very core, humans don't abide suffering, even if we don't agree with how it happened. We don't abide by hungry children and homeless veterans. We want to do what we can to contribute, right down to the least of us. 

Long ago, when the kids were babies, I lost my wallet while getting gas to go Christmas shopping. Inside was the $200 I had saved for shopping. Now, I'll never know if Lil (a grandma whose granddaughter was in Sarah's class) knew about my loss, but she knew we were struggling to get our feet under us in a new place. Out-of-the-blue, she showed up at our home one evening, and asked if we'd accept a gift. "You see, every month, I save a little from all the jobs I do. At the end of the month, I give it to someone who needs it much more than me." Inside a bank envelope was $109. There are no words big enough to thank someone for a life preserver. 

Thanks giving. A compound word made up of equal parts - to thank and to give. Being grateful for all we have is not the same as giving thanks - to those who have been our saviors in the tough times.

As we all approach Thanksgiving, I hope we sit with our memories and offer thanks again for those who came to our rescue. I hope we look for opportunities to make someone's life brighter. I hope we help where we can to alleviate suffering. My own experiences tell me it feels MUCH better to give. 

If ever we needed to feed the spirit of our fellow humans, this Thanksgiving is a great time to start.