Thanksgiving Day: Be Grateful, Eat, and Rejoice
As you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, here are some thoughts and ideas. First, you might want to watch this interesting video about the origin and development of our annual national feast:
Of course, this day is set aside to express thanks to God. The best way to do this is by participating in the Eucharist when we praise and thank God. The word “Eucharist” means thanksgiving. This is a prayer from the Didache, a first catechism written in or near the first century:
| Now about the Thanksgiving, give thanks thus: |
| First about the cup: |
| We thank you, our Father, |
| for the holy vine of your servant David, |
| which you have made known to us through your servant Jesus. |
| Glory to you forever! |
| And about the piece of bread: |
| We thank you, our Father, |
| for the life and knowledge |
| you have made known to us through Jesus your servant. |
| Glory be yours forever! |
| Just as this piece of bread |
| was scattered over the mountains, |
| and then was gathered together and became one, |
| so let your church be gathered together |
| from the ends of the earth into your kingdom. |
| For the glory and the power are yours through Jesus Christ forever! |
| After you are satisfied, give thanks thus: |
| We give you thanks, Holy Father, |
On Thanksgiving Day we gather with family and friends to feast together. It includes a prayer or prayers of gratitude. For a unique way to pray this day, see https://kathleenglavich.org/thanksgiving-prayer/
In case you are in charge of cooking the turkey and have questions, you can find directions on the Internet.
My pastor gave ideas for making this meal special: https://kathleenglavich.org/advice-for-a-happy-thanksgiving-dinner/
A Thanksgiving Day to Remember
In Tennessee Williams’ play Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche says, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” We thank God for family, home, and food. We are also grateful for the people who come to our aid in emergencies. Maybe when have a flat tire on the road, someone parks behind us and changes it for us. Or a friend gives us tickets for a concert. God’s love is channeled to us through these generous people.
Mom and I were invited to celebrate Thanksgiving with Sisters at a nearby convent. That morning, I phoned her and greeted, “Happy Thanksgiving.” She moaned, “It’s not so happy.” She explained that as she made her bed, something flew into her eye and it hurt. Because she had recently undergone cataract surgery, I was afraid this was a serious problem. I tried to contact her eye doctor with no success. Mom sent me to join the Sisters without her.
A Devoted Doctor
When I returned, bringing her a dinner, I managed to reach the doctor through his answering service. He said that if we came to his office by 3:30, he would meet us there. I deposited Mom’s dinner in the refrigerator, and we dashed out of the house. Luckily, no police saw me speeding and weaving around traffic to arrive on time. The town and the doctor’s office building were unfamiliar. In the parking lot after Mom and I emerged from the car, I took her arm to help her walk. The doctor was coming toward us from his car. He took Mom’s other arm, and we entered the building.
It turned out that Mom had a scratched cornea. After treating here, the doctor mentioned that he had left twenty-eight guests in order to be there!
Back at Mom’s house, I discovered that I had left her house key inside. My sister, who also had a key, was out of town and wouldn’t be back until evening. Aha, I knew the code for the lock provided for medical emergencies! In pouring rain, I tried over and over to open the lock. Finally giving up, I drove Mom to my convent, leaving her Thanksgiving dinner in her refrigerator.
A Good Neighbor on Thanksgiving Day
After we arrived at my convent, Jim from across the street phoned. He asked if he could bring over some dessert. I explained our predicament. Shortly after, the doorbell rang and there was Jim with two Thanksgiving dinners. He and his wife were vegans. So, Mom and I feasted on tofu turkey. That day I gave thanks for the doctor and Jim.
• What was your most memorable Thanksgiving Day?
• What person do you give thanks for?
Holiness Through Little Ordinary Things: St. Thérèse’s Way
A gem from Saint Teresa of Calcutta that is often repeated is, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” For her patron saint, this Saint chose not the great Saint Teresa of Avila, but Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. The Little Flower became popular for her practice of the “little way.” Both saints emphasized the value of doing little ordinary things for God. We can attain holiness through ordinary things.
Most of our life is humdrum, repetitive. We shop, cook, eat, and wash the dishes. We dust, mop, polish and do laundry. Once in a blue moon, we do something spectacular, like give birth or save a life. But Saint Gianna Molla said, “One earns paradise with one’s daily tasks.” When we do them well and to honor God, they merit grace, which is our ticket to heaven.
Jesus’s Example
Jesus spent about twenty years in construction work, sawing wood and erecting walls. We might consider this a waste of his precious time. Instead of leading a “hidden” life, the Son of God could have used those years to travel around the world preaching about the kingdom of God and healing the sick. Obviously being a carpenter, a blue-collar worker, for most of his life was God’s will for him. Jesus docilely accepted that role and did superior work, never cheating his customers or boss.
Mary’s Example
Then there is the most powerful woman in the world, our Blessed Mother. Mary’s life was a round of boring chores. She kneaded bread, fetched water, spun yarn, sewed clothes, and did laundry. She was not called to rule as a queen on earth or write a book of wisdom. But Mary didn’t mind or complain. She was doing every mundane chore for Jesus. You can too.
What about You?
Don’t worry if you do not wind up in the Guinness World Records book or become a canonized Saint. Those whose lives you touch will be grateful, and God will reward you. You may not build a hospital, but you can visit your sick relative. You may not be a missionary in China, but you can share God’s Word with a neighbor. You may not establish world peace, but you can keep peace in your family. You may not be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but you can sing in your parish choir. You may not win a Pulitzer Prize for a novel, but you can write a note to a friend. You may not be a martyr, but you can suffer little aches and pains quietly and patiently.
So what if you are not a CEO at a business but a peon? So what if you are not an astronaut but a stay-at-home mom? So what if you are not president of your club or organization but just a member?
Saint Paul taught, “Do everything for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Making every small act a gift for God is like turning sand into gold.
Most of the little things you do with love will go unnoticed. No one but God will know how you bit your tongue to stop from criticizing or complaining. No one will see how carefully you dusted furniture or swept a room. No one will be aware that you remembered to pray your night prayers.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux advised, “Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.” Achieve holiness through little ordinary things.
Coincidentally, this week someone posted this quotation on Facebook:
Sister Mary Beth Gray, SND, composed the following beautiful song based on Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s words. To my surprise, it was on YouTube but not attributed to her.
• What bit of sand can you turn into gold?
Self-Sufficiency in Senior Years: Thriving Solo in Your Golden Age
Image via Pexels
As a former caretaker for my mom, who passed at age 93, and because I now live with ND Village residents over 65, I found this guest blog by Harry Cline very helpful. You may too. Clicking on colored phrases takes you to more information. Here it is . . .
Many seniors find themselves managing their daily lives with limited or no immediate family support nearby. This scenario can present various challenges, from maintaining a home to managing health and staying connected with the community. However, it also offers an opportunity to cultivate independence and resilience. This guide from Kathleen Glavich provides a range of strategies to effectively handle the demands of daily living, fostering a safe and satisfying lifestyle for seniors.
Establishing a Support Network
Building a strong support network is essential for those who might feel isolated due to the absence of close family members.
- Engage with local community centers: Many centers offer programs specifically for seniors, which can be a great way to meet peers and form supportive friendships.
- Leverage technology for connections: Video calls and social media platforms can help maintain old relationships and build new ones, even from a distance.
- Utilize local services and volunteers: Many communities have volunteer services that focus on assisting seniors, whether it’s through companionship or help with errands.
Getting Organized
Staying organized can significantly ease the daily life of seniors, making routines more manageable and less stressful.
- Create a daily routine: A structured daily plan helps keep track of tasks and appointments, reducing anxiety and increasing productivity.
- Use labeling systems: Label storage areas, containers, and even settings on appliances for ease of use.
- Digitize important documents: Keeping digital copies of important documents ensures they are safe and easily accessible, and it’s always good to review them periodically to ensure they are up-to-date.
- Downsize possessions: Less clutter means fewer things to manage, which can simplify living arrangements and reduce housekeeping efforts.
- Maintain a dedicated contacts list: Keep a regularly updated list of contacts for emergency services ensuring help is always just a call away.
Health Management Essentials
Maintaining health is a key concern for seniors, especially when they are managing it on their own.
- Regular medical check-ups: Keeping up with doctor appointments can help prevent the escalation of health issues.
- Adopt a well-balanced diet: Nutrition is crucial at this stage of life, and many local programs offer meal delivery services tailored to senior dietary needs.
- Exercise regularly: Physical activity can be tailored to individual ability levels, and many community centers provide classes designed for seniors.
Mastering Daily Logistics
Daily life logistics can pose a significant challenge without the immediate help of family.
- Utilize delivery services: Groceries, medications, and other essentials can be delivered to your doorstep, reducing the need to go out.
- Arrange for transportation: Many communities offer senior-specific transportation options for shopping, appointments, and social outings.
- Embrace technology for reminders: Use devices and apps to remind you of daily tasks, appointments, and medication schedules.
Enhancing Home Safety
A safe home environment is crucial to prevent accidents and ensure that seniors can manage on their own confidently.
- Install safety modifications: Features such as grab bars in the bathroom, non-slip rugs, and proper lighting can prevent falls.
- Regular home maintenance: Ensure that all home fixtures and utilities are in working order to avoid unexpected issues.
- Use emergency alert systems: Wearable devices that alert emergency services with the push of a button can provide peace of mind for both the senior and their distant family members.
By taking proactive steps to build a supportive community network, prioritizing health, and streamlining daily tasks, seniors can confidently navigate their day-to-day challenges. This not only ensures a higher quality of life but also reinforces a sense of autonomy and empowerment.
Inspire your spiritual journey with Kathleen Glavich – where faith and insight come together.
To stay young at heart, laugh a lot. Here is a video of humorous quotes from famous people. Enjoy it!
• Can you add other tips for seniors?
Autumn Leaves, A Spectacular Show
Each fall we are treated to glorious sights as leaves die in flames of glory. This is another ingenious gift from our artistic Creator, one that mirrors God’s beauty. As I scan landscapes rich with gold, red, yellow, and orange trees, I can exclaim with poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, “O world, I cannot hold thee close enough!” This is the season for leaf peepers. Once when I was a speaker in Vermont, at the peak of nature’s fall displays, no hotel room was vacant! I had to stay at someone’s home on Lake Champlain.
Religious Significance of Fall
Gerard Manley Hopkins’s poem “Spring and Fall,” begins, “Margaret, are you grieving / Over Goldengrove unleaving?” It ends “It is Margaret you mourn for.” The dying of leaves reminds us that we too face mortality. Our fate is connected to two trees. Saint Irenaeus said, “As through a tree we were made debtors to God, so through a tree we receive cancellation of our debt.” The tempting tree in Eden gave way to the saving tree on Calvary.
My Leaf Education
I was introduced to the many varieties of leaves when we were to collect them for a high school biology class project. My mom knew I didn’t have the star-shaped sweet gum leaf. When she spotted one, to pluck it, she had my dad stop the car at the side of the road and she climbed onto it!
I carefully placed each leaf on white tagboard, traced around it, leaving a narrow border and cut it out. Then I swathed the sample in plastic wrap. My leaf album earned an A+. Linnaeus would be proud. Later, as a teacher, I used some of those preserved leaves to decorate bulletin boards.
Note: There are three basic kinds of leaves, simple (a single undivided leaf), compound (a leaf divided into leaflets attached at the stem either in a row or radiating from one point), and needlelike.
Trees
Who is not familiar with Joyce Kilmer’s poem “Trees”? To refresh your memory, here it is:
Someone drew these lessons from trees: Stand tall and proud, go out on a limb, remember your roots, drink plenty of water, be content with your natural beauty, and don’t forget to enjoy the view!
A lesson from the stately redwood trees: How do these enormous trees that stretch into the sky remain standing? Their roots are intertwined. Through this mingling of roots, they also share water and nutrients. They teach us the value of cooperation and mutual support.
Besides providing us with beautiful scenery, nuts, oxygen, and shade, trees help us to play. Did you ever build a treehouse, swing from vines, climb a tree, picnic under a tree, or hide your face against a tree trunk, counting to a hundred for a game of hide-and-seek?
Soon we will be moving evergreen trees into our houses and decorating them as Christmas trees that add enjoyment and beauty to the celebration of this feast.
• What is your favorite kind of tree?
• Was a certain tree special to you growing up? Is one special now?
One of my favorite melodies is “Autumn Leaves.” Here is a version with lyrics sung with Nat King Cole’s velvety voice.
Bees, Hives, and Honey
A beekeeper recently gave me a jar of honey. I can see why honey is called liquid gold. It’s beautiful as it streams down from a spoon, and it wonderfully satisfies my sweet tooth. This gift made me curious about bees, so I googled them. Today I share with you some things I learned.
- There are more than 20,000 species of bees.
- A hive can hold 20,000 drones.
- Worker bees are all female, but only the queen bee can mate and reproduce.
- Female honeybees have baskets on their hind legs to collect pollen.
- Only the female worker bees have stingers, so they protect the hive, not the drones.
- Bees have five eyes: two large ones and three small ones in between them.
- A queen honeybee can lay over 2,000 eggs in a day.
- After mating with the queen, the drone dies.
- Bees have combs on their forelimbs to clean their antennae.
- Bees sleep when they are tired.
- Bees can only sting once and then die; wasps can sting many times.
- When a hive divides, the new queen and followers “swarm” and look for a home.
Bees in History
- Beekeeping has been practiced at least since the times of Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.
- In Egyptian mythology, bees grew from the tears of the sun god Ra when they landed on the desert sand.
- The honeybee was the royal symbol for pharaohs from 3000 BC and 350 BC.
- As a baby, Zeus was fed milk and honey.
- A custom was to “tell the bees” when someone died. After Queen Elizabeth II died, the royal beekeeper informed the bees of Buckingham Palace and Clarence House. He explained, “You knock on each hive and say, ‘The mistress is dead, but don’t you go. Your master will be a good master to you.’ “
Catholic Symbolism
Bees became a symbol for Our Lady because of their diligence and good work. They also symbolized her virginity because the worker bees don’t reproduce.
Providentially, World Bee Day is May 20. May is Mary’s month.
Because honey is sweet, it became a symbol for St. Ambrose and St. Bernard of Clairvaux, whose words were as sweet as honey.
According to a legend, during the conclave for Pope Urban VIII, a swarm of bees flew into the Vatican seen as a divine sign. He made the bee his personal emblem.
The Paschal Candle and other candles used in the liturgy must be at least 51% beeswax. This is because wax produced by the honeybee is considered the sweetest and purist, the most appropriate for symbolizing the humanity of Jesus.
(My mother would use only beeswax when she decorated Easter eggs.)
Hexagonal cells in a honeycomb are made from wax secreted and chewed by the bees. The cells are for storing honey and for baby bees to develop.
Why “Busy as a Bee”?
Bees in a hive do the same task all day long. Worker bees my fly maybe ten miles a day as they gather pollen and nectar and bring it to the hive over and over. A bee can visit more than two million flowers to gather enough nectar to make one pound of honey.
My Sad Encounter with Bees
My dad hung a tire from the large tree on our land in the country so we kids could swing. This swing was not always fun. One afternoon it was like the Trojan Horse. We were taking turns being pushed on the swing, blissfully unaware of the ruckus this would cause. Our joy ended abruptly. My brother, who was four or five, stood screaming with his fist clenched. When he uncurled it, inside lay a black and yellow bee.
Suddenly, all of us were yelling, jumping, running around the yard, and rolling on the ground as if performing a wild dance. My father rolled up newspaper and began swatting us with it. Little did we know that the tire was suspended over an underground nest of bees. They viewed our stamping back and forth on it as an attack. As we pushed each other on the swing, the bees had stealthily crawled up inside our pant legs and then stung.
We swiftly packed up and went home. Dad was stung next to his eye. I suffered the most wounds—six of them. We won the battle of the bees though, with the help of an ally. Mike, an elderly neighbor, poured kerosene into the nest and burned them out.
Warning: Do not kill bees. We need them to pollinate and so provide our fruit, vegetables, and nuts!
The video below contains more interesting information about bees. Although it is meant for children, it is worthwhile for adults too.
• What has been your experience with bees?
