We Must Be Grateful
'For all God's gifts there must be in us a response of
thanksgiving and happiness and joy.'
Thomas Merton, Seeds of Contemplation.
***
We must be grateful
when the old ones leave.
Forsaking the March sun,
they brush off tender, white blossoms.
Past the fleeing migrations,
they exhale their final, tainted breath.
Rising from earthen bones
in deep silence, new hymns intone
of thanksgiving and joy
and home.
poem by Steven Federle
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Related quotes
The Serene Happiness Of Silent Acceptance
For all God's gifts there must be in us a response of thanksgiving and happiness and joy: but here we thank Him less by words than by the serene happiness of silent acceptance.
Thomas Merton, Seeds of Contemplation
With gift of thunder and pain
prepare the soil
for living rain.
With gift of streaming grace
fill my soul
with unspeakable faith!
poem by Steven Federle
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Thanksgiving
Time to put our problems aside and get along for
Thanksgiving
With family, friends, and relatives
We all have something to be thankful for
I'm thankful for my family, friends, and God
Without them I won't be here today
I feel so lucky and grateful for what I have
Some of us are less fortunate and don't get to celebrate
Thanksgiving
It time to give back
You will feel great about yourself
It make you think about life
Some of us don't care about this holiday and we should stop and think and care
That we all are so forunate and grateful for what we have
Some of our tradition we do are watch football, family dinner or party
Thanksgiving
It time when we all get together, laugh, eat, smile, and have a great time
Thanksgiving
Gobble, gobble
I wish you all Happy
Thanksgiving
I hope you all have wonderful time because I'm going to have fun, and be thankful for what I got now
Thanksgiving
poem by Christina Phan
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Prayer Of Thanksgiving
Here below, when the cold wind blow,
A voice may cry for those many that will die,
I too; shall have company at my elbow,
And the prayer of thanks rises in the sky.
Spirit going over the grass and white cloud,
With the prayer of gratitude endearing essence,
Passing through testing flames to shout aloud,
Near heaven, aromas of thanksgiving grace.
To live in this world just as we should do,
Sharing with others the joy in my soul,
With no crystal moon to distinguish an ego,
Only pursuit of inner peace I want god to behold.
I am in a realm where we mortals are glad,
When we are sad, to fall upon hands and knees,
In thanksgiving prayer we shall reach our God,
Eternity is destining for truth and justice.
You may leave me on these shores in fire,
But I shall live while grace is abounding,
When the banners fan in their final hour,
I will remember a prayer of thanksgiving.
To the alter burn sun of endearing essence,
poem by Gerry Legister
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Thanksgiving
happy thanksgiving to all poets and poetesses
this is my thanksgiving wish
hope you are enjoying a favourite dish
with family and friends
if family can't make it, then please phone
for all my family who have passed on
especially to my mom, who is not living
thanks for my life and all the love given
i miss you sadly - but for you
i know this thanksgiving
your happiness is endless
the grand feast is in the company
of our lord and creator
it will be the most joyful for you
for this thought, i have faith is true
this faith is where my solace lies
poem by Rachel Nichols
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Holiday poem-Give thanks
Thanksgiving, think about this oustanding holiday
give thanks in a very special way
you should be thankful for everything you have
dance, sing, be jolly, and laugh
Thanksgiving isnt like the christmas season,
but it is a goood reason
to give thanks
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! !
poem by Maria Herron
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Mercy and Love
In order to know and love God as He is, we must have God dwelling in us in a new way, not only in His creative power but in His mercy. Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation.
Nothing I could do
would ever be enough
to make the dead-wood
live. Though the wind
and rain sever bright leaves,
tender blossoms from
the cherry tree, and the
birds themselves fly
from my anger,
I know
I could never
make it right,
though with tears I flood,
nourish with a
broken heart's blood
I am powerless.
Yet still these bruised stems,
thicken and split
to bud, spill green life,
fill the earth
with mercy
and love.
poem by Steven Federle
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Dark Contemplation
"Contemplation cannot be taught. It cannot even be clearly explained. It can only be hinted at, suggested, pointed to, symbolized." Thomas Merton. New Seeds of Contemplation
Through seasons of pleasure
and months of pain,
morning birds calling;
night's howling trains
oh, fall into dream's
cold silent folds
where unyielding truth
nightly is told.
The morning star's rising
through night's fading lace.
Soon sun will be glaring;
truth without grace.
poem by Steven Federle
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The Only One
'The only One Who can teach me to find God is God, Himself, Alone.'
Thomas Merton, Seeds of Contemplation.
The only one
who can fill black night
with interior light,
who can lead me
past the gun-shots,
thump and thud,
hate filled percussion,
of hidden mines,
the death of
children
is God,
Himself,
Alone.
poem by Steven Federle
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Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one Holiday
where your taste buds get the gift
There is lots of cooking
the smell of pie is adrift
There will be turkey and dressing,
cranberries and other side dishes you adore
Dinner rolls will top your plate
And in pain, you go back for more
Some will try to save room
for that special pumpkin pie
And have a slice, room or not
with each bite just say, my oh my
Most will loosen their belt
or maybe undo a button or snap
Then head for the couch
and a Thanksgiving Day nap
There will be leftovers
we will enjoy and share
For on Thanksgiving
no cupboard should be bare
With these simple words
I wish you and yours the best
And I hope in this time of uncertainty
Thanksgiving, passes the test
Terry M
Thanksgiving Feast
The table is set for our thanksgiving feast
and all have taken their place
The meal of the year, is finally here,
and oh, how great it will taste..
Potatoes and gravy and cranberry sauce,
and rolls that are made fresh and hot.
Turkey with stuffing, right out of the oven.
Pumpkin pie that hasn't been bought.
Our family is anxiously gathered around
in a circle of love hand in hand.
A scene reminiscent of thanksgivings past.
A tradition we all understand.
Dad offers a prayer of thanksgiving to God
for abundance of blessings we share.
Tears touch his cheeks as he humbly gives thanks
for much more than the food that is there.
Though stomachs are empty, each heart is full
while united as family we pray,
Thanking dear God for His wonderful love,
and our blessings this Thanksgiving Day.
When this day is gone and life carries on,
may gratitude live on in me.
Lord help me, I pray, to make every day
a day of thanksgiving to Thee.
poem by Ron Tranmer
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I always had a thing with Thanksgivings. I've started dating people and broken up with them around Thanksgiving several times. What is it about Thanksgiving? I guess that at least someone's there to console you.
quote by Jennifer Morrison
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Hymns To The Silence
Oh my dear, oh my dear sweet love
Oh my dear, oh my dear sweet love
When Im away from you, when Im away from you
Well I feel, yeah, well I feel so sad and blue
Well I feel, well I feel so sad and blue
Oh my dear, oh my dear, oh my dear sweet love
When Im away from you, I just have to sing, my hymns
Hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence
Hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence
Oh my dear, oh my dear sweet love its a long, long journey
Long, long journey, journey back home
Back home to you, feel you by my side
Long journey, journey, journey
Yeah in the midnight, in the midnight, I burn the candle
Burn the candle at both ends, burn the candle at both ends
Burn the candle at both ends, burn the candle at both ends
And I keep on, 'cause I cant sleep at night
Until the daylight comes through
And I just, and I just, have to sing
Sing my hymns to the silence
Hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence
My hymns to the silence
I wanna go out in the countryside
Oh sit by the clear, cool, crystal water
Get my spirit, way back to the feeling
Deep in my soul, I wanna feel
Oh so close to the one, close to the one
Close to the one, close to the one
And thats why, I keep on singing baby
My hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence
Oh my hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence
Oh hymns to the silence, oh hymns to the silence
Oh hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence
Oh my dear, my dear sweet love
Can you feel the silence? can you feel the silence?
Can you feel the silence? can you feel the silence?
Hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence
Hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence
Hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence
Hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence
Hymns to the silence, hymns to the silence.
song performed by by Van Morrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Life Itself
"It is that life itself, fully awake, fully active,
fully aware that it is alive. It is spiritual wonder."
Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
Dark rain penetrates
tender leaves, swell spirits, sparks
dormant roots to life.
Like a god, Your star
ascends; with wonder and grace
shines Your mighty face!
poem by Steven Federle
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Mass
f I trust You, everything else will become, for me, strength, health, and support. Everything will bring me to heaven. If I do not trust You, everything will be my destruction.
Thomas Merton Thoughts in Solitude
When it begins
music plays and we sing
songs of gathering, greeting.
This, then, is the family complete,
assembled around the table
ready for the thanksgiving feast.
Why can't we just remain
innocent,
present?
We tell the stories of our youth,
laugh at self-folly, glad
to tell the truth,
but soon we feel the pain
of separation, of nails
driven deep
beneath our tender skin:
his heart breaks; her beloved body
cancer invades until we can only stare
at vacant crossings,
bereft,
alone,
when you speak
and, believing beyond reason,
we feel you, deep down,
feel the bread subsumed
in our very guts, spread
unreasonable warmth
and comfort
and joy!
We cannot understand such power
but without it
our lives
would cease.
poem by Steven Federle
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Sunrise
'Sunrise is an event that calls forth solemn music in the very depths of man's nature, as if one's whole being has to attune itself to the cosmos and praise God for the new day, praise Him in the name of all the creatures that ever were or ever will be.' Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander
Oh call me softly
in the morning!
With winter's sun
paint golden
the pale trees.
In deep waters,
in cool ponds brush my
legs, caress
my tender feet.
Your breath flies
through the green
canyons.
With tongues
of flame
oh, ravish me!
poem by Steven Federle
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My Thanksgiving
(don henley/stan lynch/jai winding)
A lot of things have happened
Since the last time we spoke
Some of them are funny
Some of em aint no joke
And I trust you will forgive me
If I lay it on the line
I always thought you were a friend of mine
Sometimes I think about you
I wonder how youre doing now
And what youre going through
The last time I saw you
We were playing with fire
We were loaded with passion
And a burning desire
For every breath, for every day of living
And this is my thanksgiving
Now the trouble with you and me, my friend
Is the trouble with this nation
Too many blessings, too little appreciation
And I know that kind of notionwell, it just aint cool
So send me back to sunday school
Because Im tired of waiting for reason to arrive
Its too long weve been living
These unexamined lives
Ive got great expectations
Ive got family and friends
Ive got satisfying work
Ive got a back that bends
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my thanksgiving
Have you noticed that an angry man
Can only get so far
Until he reconciles the way he thinks things ought to be
With the way things are
Here in this fragmented world, I still believe
In learning how to give love, and how to receive it
And I would not be among those who abuse this privilege
Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge
And I dont mind saying that I still love it all
I wallowed in the springtime
Now Im welcoming the fall
For every moment of joy
Every hour of fear
For every winding road that brought me here
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my thanksgiving
For everyone who helped me start
And for everything that broke my heart
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my thanksgiving
song performed by by Don Henley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My favorite meal is turkey and mashed potatoes. I love Thanksgiving, it's just my favorite. I can have Thanksgiving all year round.
quote by Cindy Margolis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Daily Life
Life must provide a space of liberty, of silence, in which possibilities are allowed to surface and new choices become manifest. Thomas Merton
What I wear is pants. What I do is live. How I pray is breathe. Thomas Merton
Waking each morning, ex-
pelled from my space,
somebody
else has taken my place!
So rising to join in the common fray
compelled through the breathless, common day;
I stop,
and I choose,
and I breathe,
and I pray.
poem by Steven Federle
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The Quarrel
'Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt.' Thomas Merton
*
Words spoken drift like
mustard gas, doubt burning like
webs, unexpected
spiders brush my ears,
slip into my eyes as blind-
ly I run away.
poem by Steven Federle
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Living Out Thanksgiving
One's thanksgiving that's truly rife, comes from a Spirit filled life,
It is not about what we deserve, but, all about The God we serve;
It's not about things on this sod, but, a relationship with our God,
All good things come from above, from God, in unchanging love.
We can display real thanksgiving, through the choice of our living,
That choice between Spirit or flesh, knowing the two do not mesh,
For one causes unrighteousness, while one fuels our thankfulness,
So to live for God is our choice, so that in our God we can rejoice.
We can walk in The Wisdom of, The Lord God, Who reigns above,
While we walk in The Spirit of Christ, as The Savior guides our life,
Walking in the light of His Word, applying all the Truth we've heard,
As more to God, of life, we give, in true Thankfulness we can live.
Fear is the beginning of Wisdom, as we seek first God's Kingdom,
While in God's Spirit we abide, His Word then becomes our guide,
With His Word as our guiding light, in a world where wrong is right.
While yielding to God, not to sin, He fills us with songs and hymns.
When thanksgiving fills our heart, God's Love to others we impart,
When it's God we choose to serve, we get more than we deserve,
When thanking God along the way, true joy and peace fills the day,
When filled with joy and singing, our life displays real Thanksgiving.
(Copyright ©11/2012)