I know of a place where the wind’s soft music fills the air. From a distance I watch your spotted deer, birds on wing; leaf and stream...These are my kindred, my kind, and I feel strangely at home."

     This is how I feel beside the river; always at home. As I sit here now, the autumn season is in full glory and my heart begins to feel, also, the season of Thanksgiving.

     As to my physical condition, I feel like a human guinea pig as the doctors continue to experiment with medicines to help me stay alive. Mentally, in spite of aging forgetfulness, God has granted keenness and creativity for which I am most grateful. Spiritually I seem to grow in harmony with God, His Word, and His world with every passing day. Here lies the source of my carrying on and still trying to give the world a smile.
In psychology class many years ago, I learned that we tend to forget the bad things of the past and remember the good. As I reflect upon Thanksgiving, I reflect upon the many good things God has given me. Along with the vast amount of goodness in the beauty and bounty of His world; the physical necessities and luxuries. He has given me the treasure of many friends and family. Lifelong friends who have formed with me an unbreakable bond; new friends I've recently met and feel I've known all my life. New babies arrive in my family and the number of nieces and nephews, grands and greats, are awesome. 

     Then there are moments like this when I think the sunrise must have been the most beautiful I've ever seen. Last evening's sunset felt like the loveliest of my life. The moonlight evenings in autumn become times when dreams are relived or made for the young and old. I feel joy when my neighbor's young grandson discovers all the joys of exploring fish and crabs and other creatures of the pond even when my stomach gets queasy when he dissects a fish.

     My soul is in awe of God and His world and I want to shout to people everywhere, "Let us make each day a Day of Thanksgiving". This Thanksgiving in America will be different than any we have ever known. For the first time, American soil has been defaced by an enemy that killed thousands of our people. Let us spend the day remembering them and remembering God blessed America when we were founded as a Christian nation. May we return to Him who is the source of all Good. 

© 2001 Florence Jenkins Muse All Rights Reserved