Recognizing Thanksgiving’s grace, and welcoming the Christmas season in Los Banos
The grace of Thanksgiving is here.
Across the nation many families said grace on Thanksgiving Day before their feast. It is common for those around the table to state what they are most grateful for that year.
This age-old custom is an honored way of acknowledging the blessings that have been bestowed upon their family.
There is also, I believe, within the grace of Thanksgiving, an inner process, that I believe feeds the soul as well. This may be more important than the food that nourishes the body.
It is sometimes good to be thankful not just for the things that have been good for you, or good for those you love.
That grace I try to add silently each year, beginning with:
“I would be thankful if those who are lonely were graced with companionship.”
“If those who are hungry or cold or without shelter were graced with their basic needs. If those who are ill, suffering, or hopeless were graced with a cure. Or the medical care they need, or the comfort of someone who cares.”
“I would be thankful if the wave of anger and hate in our country would take a break, and cool down like our weather. “
“If all who seek a job find one, and those who need workers, get them. I would be thankful if all animal shelters were empty because all the pets were adopted. I would be thankful if fear could be replaced by faith, hate by love, despair by hope, loneliness by the grace of friendship. “
“And I would be thankful if all those who will celebrate this Thanksgiving for the first time without a loved one could feel the grace of being upheld by others.”
Just because we cannot see it, it does not mean that something doesn’t exist…we are all graced by an eternal circle made by those who have lived and loved before us.
Background on the holiday
Welcome to a brief history lesson as we head into our holiday. Thanksgiving has a rich legacy of gratefulness, born from the blessing of good harvests both from the current and preceding years.
Back then maybe we had more awareness that there had been lean years and we should be thankful.
When you have known hunger, food tastes better. Our Thanksgiving’s historic roots come from England with religious and cultural traditions, although now we celebrate it as a secular holiday.
The Protestant reformation, when pilgrims and puritans immigrated, beginning in 1619, began a new awakening in New England.
The perilous travel and experiences of these brave immigrants are well recorded, even if back then there were no smartphones or selfies.
In 1619, 38 English settlers decided to put down roots at Berkeley Hundred in Charles City County in Virginia .
They decided then to create a day of religious celebration, as dictated by the group’s charter from the London Company, which required that ”The day of our ships arrival at the place assigned in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanks to almighty God.”
It was in 1620 that the folks at Plymouth, of the old Rock fame, celebrated a feast prompted by a good harvest shared with the Wampanoags.
This American Indian tribe had helped them through the previous winter by giving them food in exchange for an alliance.
Although President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the day for National Thanksgiving in 1863, it was not made an official federal holiday until 1939 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the proclamation setting aside the fourth Thursday of November.
The season is coming
The light of Christmas will burst forth on Dec. 2 with the Community Holiday Ceremony at Henry Miller Plaza at 6 p.m.
I am told Santa may make a visit. Be sure to enjoy the festively decorated windows of our businesses and fill out the forms available to vote for your favorite one.
It will be “Rocking Around A Strong Community” when our Annual Christmas parade returns on 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3.
It will go on rain or shine, so come out and join in on the fun. Santa Claus will be visiting our Community Center for Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Breakfast will include eggs, sausage, pancakes and a beverage. The cost is $8 with presale or $12 at door.
Tickets may be purchased at the Community Center or go to losbanos.org. There will be crafts for children to do and an opportunity for a picture with Santa.
Come get filled with the joy of Christmas through the magical sound of the Los Banos High School Choir Winter Concert on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Ted Falasco Center located at the corner of 5th and K streets.
My ears are already tingling with excitement. OLF will be having their wonderful Children’s Christmas Program on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. Saint Joseph’s Church is located on Center Avenue.
May you all have a day of grace that is filled with joy and Thanksgiving. May you reach out and share your sense of appreciation and be filled with the gratitude that sustains us whether in times of feast or famine.
May you make memories that will become golden in the future. May we all be filled to the brim with good food, good fun, good feelings, and a warm and robust hunger for the holiday season that has now begun.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
