Why not have everyday be a day of thanksgiving?  How about that for a worthwhile idea?  We are surrounded by so many blessings each day that often times we just walk by without even noticing.  Just look at the news of the world and you will discover that wherever we are, we are blessed beyond measure.  For many years at our Thanksgiving table I have said the following prayer written by Patrick Finley.  You may want to include it in your Thanksgiving celebrations this year.  You may even want to forward on the prayer to your family and friends to use, too.

What a blessing it is to get together with our loved ones;  feasting with them, toasting a glass or two, enjoying the blessings of life – and giving thanks.  Thanks for life all around us, underfoot, and overhead.

Thanks for the ability to remember those we love as well as to forget how much we’ve been hurt at times in our life; thanks for fine young bodies,  and old venerable minds;  for sun on our faces,  the wind on our sails,  the rain on the roof,  and the food on the table grown by people we don’t even know.

Thanks that the jets overhead that aren’t dropping their bombs,  that our healing hands have a place to practice,  that children are born every minute of the day,  and that death is there to gather us up at the end.

And thanks for at least one day a year when we all take the time to get some perspective.   AMEN - Patrick Finley

And, besides counting our blessings this week, did you know there was another Thanksgiving celebration last month on October 15th?   Many of you may not realize there are two Thanksgivings celebrated in the Virgin Islands – Hurricane Thanksgiving on October 15, and the traditional one celebrated this Thursday.

Every October since 1726, the residents of the US Virgin Islands offer thanks for their safekeeping during the potentially lethal hurricane season that officially lasts from July through the end of October. The day has historically been observed by offering thanks to God for his protection during the season. The event had been losing its significance through several years of relatively mild hurricanes until the tradition was revived by the devastating Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn in 1995. The day is a national holiday across the islands and is marked with prayer and often with a celebratory meal in the evening.

Thank goodness this hurricane season was milder than was expected.  So, there is another reason to raise our glasses in celebration this Thursday, for thirst is a dangerous thing.   I would enjoy having you let me know how your Thanksgiving celebration unfolds.  Until next time…fair winds!