Creating! Graces: Past Thanksgiving Revisited

GRACE: The Triple Goddess, + One

I have been a firm believer in the Triple Goddess in each woman and in every woman, embracing the roles of Maiden, Mother, and Crone as they have presented themselves in my life; searching for them within when their specific insights were needed.

But as I age, and realize that women are living longer and healthier lives, I realize there is a void that must be filled by a new entity... she that is no longer quite so responsible as Mother, but who isn't quite yet secure in the role of Crone. Others, of course, have sensed this void, and have chosen their own idea of the needed addition to the Triple Goddess. I, however, am flying free, using only my own thoughts at present. I call this evolving goddess within myself "Grace": Grace because this new span of time for me, and other women, is there by the grace of God; and Grace because I need to learn to accept and share this gift of time and opportunity with grace... gracefully, gratefully, and graciously.

And because Grace is evolving, I will continue to honor the Triple Goddess, but always include Grace as "+ One". Women have always felt "the more the merrier", opening their arms, their homes, and their hearts to others. This blog is dedicated to Creating! Grace within myself and Creating! Graces in others. So, welcome, Grace, as we begin this exploration into your becomings!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Past Thanksgiving Revisited

I wrote the following essay close to forty years ago... I'm trying (hard) to recapture the innocence of the way I felt when I was writing it, and I'm hoping that I do: I want the reason I feel differently now to be because I've changed and not because the world is different... That way there is the chance that I can continue to change and find again some of the idealism I felt then. Maybe by Thanksgiving 2012, I will have lost my jadedness and be willing to see the pure grace in the simple things mentioned here. I'm going to work towards that goal, anyway!

When there is a fire burning slowly in the fireplace and the kitchen smells have sifted throughout the house, I give thanks for the simple things: a baby’s bright smile, a chrysanthemum in full bloom, or just the rustle of leaves blowing in the November gusts.

When there is a crackle of excitement because company is coming soon, I give thanks for the home that is always warm on the inside when it is cold on the outside. This is the warmth of people: the warmth of laughter and good times, the warmth of optimism and peace, and the warmth of love.

As I sit drinking a cup of hot spiced cider, I praise the Lord for my family: a family in which togetherness is important, good times are shared by all, and Christ is the head of the household. Ours is a family where individualism is accepted and goals are achieved through the help of all the members.

As we join hands for grace, we give thanks for the good food, good friends, and good health. We offer a prayer of thanks for the feeling of comfort and belonging that we share, and we hope that our family will continue to serve not only food on Thanksgiving Day, but also warmth and joy.

We give thanks for our country, a country with the four essential freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. America is a country of hard workers and talented artists, of high mountains and grand canyons, of old philosophers and excited children. The United States is a happy country – for this we are thankful.

As the day lingers to an end, I am thankful for the enthusiasm of each person as we enjoyed this time together, and I am optimistic that our joy will remain with us. I offer a prayer for more days like this: more days filled with only pleasure. And as I pray, I feel that the Lord, too, is pleased with this Thanksgiving Day.