We will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day here in the US in a couple of days. Families will gather for a bountiful meal and celebrate the blessings of the past year. There will be family members who won't be able to attend that meal, not because they live too far away or money is too tight this year and not because they are stationed on a military base somewhere in the world. Those missing family members have left this earthly life and their absence is felt deeply, especially if this is the first Thanksgiving to be celebrated without them. How do we get past those feelings of loss and find a way to feel thankful?
The Tate Girls (Betty, Joan, and Nancy) were faced with this dilemma several years ago on a Thanksgiving Day after the unexpected loss of their brother. Nancy tells us the story of Thanksgivings of the past and what her and her sisters did to start a new tradition after the loss of their brother devastated their lives. In Thanksgiving Prayer: A Family Tradition, we are given a glimpse into a family filled with love for one another and how they coped with their loss that year and in the years since then. Since there isn't a family in existence that won't be missing someone at their Thanksgiving meal, I recommend that you read Nancy's story. She reminds us to remember our lost ones and to be thankful for the time we did get to share with them.
Some would say that computers have made us a colder society and takes away from the human contact that we used to have. I would disagree. Even though I have not met Joan or Nancy physically, if not for the wonders of the internet I wouldn't have known them at all. Through this machine that I'm now typing on two remarkable ladies have entered my life and the lives of others. They use the computer to spread joy, love, and compassion. They have enriched my life and the lives of many with their family stories and at this time of year their sharing of their family tradition: A Thanksgiving Prayer.
I know that a couple of years ago, Nancy's story was reviewed on this very website by Mimi. Yesterday, I received the lovely card with the prayer from dear Joan and it touched my heart once again. I decided that Nancy's story and a tribute to the Tate Girls was something that could be shared again this year and I hope that each of you will find comfort from Nancy's words. Perhaps, you will think of someone you can share the poem/prayer with to lift their spirits.
Something that I will be giving thanks for on Thursday is the wonderful friendships I've made online. People who reach out and touch our lives with love and compassion like the Tate Sisters (Betty, Joan, and Nancy). Happy Thanksgiving to all of my online friends! My life is the better for getting to know each of you.
One of my favorite lenses, Bev. There's no doubt at all that it touches the heart of every person who reads it. So thankful to have met Nancy, Joan, and Betty through this marvelous Internet.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to all!
Just a note: The move to WordPress has the URLs in disarray. If anyone is looking for the other review of this lens, it's at http://blog.growwear.com/thanksgiving-prayer-a-family-tradition/
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bev! Believe it or not, I have never seen this lens of Nancy's and it was so beautiful to read today. I agree totally with what you say about the wonderful people you can get to know online.
ReplyDeleteOh Bev! Thank you!! You expressed our distress, shock and grief so well. And yes, over 20 years later, and we continue to grieve -- it just hurts a little less.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing our story and the precious prayer that Nancy found that year. As you said, so many people will have someone special missing from their table this year. The Thanksgiving prayer helps us keep things in perspective and continue to give thanks for all our many blessings.
Oh Bev, thank you so much for this wonderful review of Thanksgiving Prayer - A Family Tradition. I got ready to mail my cards this year and had 17 friends who had lost loved ones. Yes, indeed, this is a very hard time of year for folks like them and I hope that this simple little prayer by Alice Kennelly Roberts brings as much comfort to them and others as it has for our family.
ReplyDeleteI feel truly blessed to have made friends like you on Squidoo. Thank you.
I owe you a thanks as well Bev. I wasn't around here last year and may have missed this wonderful lens. I agree, as well, that the internet has opened the world to those that would never have met otherwise. Great choice and a great review!
ReplyDeleteThis might be a good time to say thanks to all of you for being your beautiful selves. And, for the fun you've given to my Squidoo 'sperience. Thanks, too, for reminding me of this lens. hugs all 'round.
ReplyDeleteOh yes I remember reading this last year. Nancy does a great job with this subject, one we all know as you said. This year has been a very bad year with so many of my friends passing away unexpectedly at young ages and it is indeed hard on friends and family. It is always heartwarming to read both of the Tate Sisters stories. Thank you for your review, it's always nice to know how someone else feels about something you like.
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