Life's Challenges - Stories - Thanksgiving
Lincoln's Thanksgiving
Proclamation
"It is the duty of nations as well as men to own their
dependence upon the overruling power of God: to confess
their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with
assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy
and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth,
announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all
history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the
Lord.
"We know that by His divine law, nations, like
individuals, are subjected to punishments and
chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that
the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the
land, may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our
presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national
reformation as a whole people?
"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of
heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace
prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power
as no other nation has ever grown.
"But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the
gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied
and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly
imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all
these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom
and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken
success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the
necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud
to pray to the God that made us.
"It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be
solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as
with one heart and one voice, by the whole American
people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in
every part of the United States, and also those who are
at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to
set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a
day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father
who dwelleth in the heavens."
President Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863
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Author Unknown
Room At
The Table
Have you ever noticed that dining room tables seat six, eight, or twelve-not
seven, nine, or thirteen? I've been single all my life, usually not thinking
much of it. But on holidays even the place-settings conspire against me,
rendering a silent rebuke against my single status.
You can endure holiday dinners two ways if you're single: 1) Bring someone you
don't particularly care for; 2) Hear the awful words "pull up an extra seat," a
euphemism for either a collapsible chair or one that is too high or too low for
the table. Either strategy leaves you uncomfortable.
At Thanksgiving two years ago, while my calves cramped from straddling the leg
of my brother's dining room table, Aunt Nell took the opportunity to ask for
details about my love life, which was seriously lacking at the time. The event
was excruciating.
Though I enjoy single hood in the main, there have been times when I've worked
myself into a mad frenzy looking for someone to fill a void I thought I couldn't
satisfy on my own. Someone, anyone with a pulse would do. Over the years, I
dated quite a few guys I liked-I was even engaged once but "till death do we
part" seemed a very long time. I always ended up alone again.
So holidays, especially with the Aunt Nells of the family, can weaken my
confidence, leaving me a little bereft. One day, noting my frustration
surrounding the holidays, a friend of mine suggested we try something different
on the next such occasion.
"How `bout you and I go down to a homeless shelter and help out? Then maybe
we'll be grateful for what we have," she proposed. I had a thousand reasons why
this wasn't a good idea, but my friend persisted. The next Christmas I found
myself in an old downtown warehouse, doling out food. Never in my life had I
seen so many turkeys and rows of pumpkin pies. Decorations donated by a nearby
grocery store created a festive atmosphere that uplifted even my reluctant
spirit. When everyone was fed, I took a tray and filled a plate with the
bountiful harvest. After a few bites, I knew what everyone was carrying on
about; the food was really good.
My dinner companions were easy company. Nobody asked me why I didn't have a date
or when I was going to settle down. People just seemed grateful for a place to
sit and enjoy a special dinner. To my surprise, I found I had much in common
with my fellow diners. They were people just like me.
My experience that Christmas brought me back to the shelter the following year.
I enjoyed helping others so much that I began seeking more opportunities to
serve. I started volunteering for the Literacy Foundation once a week. I figured
I could sit in front of the TV, or I could use those evening hours to help
others learn to read.
Caring for others has abundantly filled the void in my life that I had sometimes
interpreted as a missing mate. When I stopped trying to so hard to fit in, I
realized I was single for a reason and found my own special purpose.
There is room at the table for a party of one. And sometimes "just one" is the
perfect fit.
Author Unknown
The First Thanksgiving
All through the first summer and the early part of autumn the Pilgrims were busy
and happy. They had planted and cared for their first fields of corn. They had
found wild strawberries in the meadows, raspberries on the hillsides, and wild
grapes in the woods.
In the forest just back of the village wild turkeys and deer were easily shot.
In the shallow waters of the bay there was plenty of fish, clams, and lobsters.
The summer had been warm, with a good deal of rain and much sunshine; and so,
when autumn came, there was a fine crop of corn.
"Let us gather the fruits of our first harvest and rejoice together," said
Governor Bradford.
"Yes," said Elder Brewster, "let us take a day upon which we may thank God for
all our blessings and invite to it our Indian friends who have been so kind to
us."
The Pilgrims said that one day was not enough; so they planned to have a
celebration for a whole week.
The great Indian chief, Massasoit, came with ninety of his bravest warriors, all
gaily dressed in deerskins, feathers, and fox tails, with their faces smeared
with red, white, and yellow paint. As a sign of rank, Massasoit wore a string of
bones and a bag of tobacco around his neck. In his belt he carried a long knife.
His face was painted red, and his hair was daubed with oil.
There were only eleven buildings in the whole of Plymouth village, four log
storehouses, and seven little log dwelling-houses, so the Indian guests ate and
slept out of doors. This did not matter for it was one of those warm weeks in
the season that we call Indian summer.
To supply meat for the occasion four men had already been sent out to hunt wild
turkeys. They killed enough in one day to last the company almost a week.
Massasoit helped the feast along by sending some of his best hunters into the
woods. They brought back five deer which they gave to their pale face friends,
that all might have enough to eat.
Under the trees were built long, rude tables on which were piled baked clams,
broiled fish, roasted turkey, and venison. The young Pilgrim women helped serve
the food to the hungry redskins. We shall always remember two of the fair young
girls who waited on the first Thanksgiving table. One was Mary Chilton, who
leaped first from the boat at Plymouth Rock. The other was Mary Allerton. She
lived for seventy-eight years after this first Thanksgiving; of those who came
over in the Mayflower she was the last to die.
What a merry time everybody had during that week! How the mothers must have
laughed as they told about the first Monday morning on Cape Cod, when they all
went ashore to wash their clothes! It must have been a big washing, for there
had been no chance to do it at sea, so stormy had been the long voyage of
sixty-three days. They little thought that Monday would always after be kept as
washing day. One proud Pilgrim mother, we may be sure, showed her baby boy,
Peregrine White.
And so the fun went on. In the daytime the young men ran races, played games,
and had a shooting match. Every night the Indians sang and danced for their
friends; and to make the party still more lively they gave every now and then a
shrill war whoop that made the woods echo in the still night air.
The third day came. Massasoit had been well treated, and would have liked to
stay longer, but he said that he could not be away from his camp for more than
three days. So the pipe of peace was silently passed around. Then, taking their
gifts of glass beads and trinkets, the Indian King and his warriors said
farewell to their English friends and began their long march through the woods
to their wigwams on Mount Hope Bay.
On the last day of this Thanksgiving party, Elder Brewster preached the first
Thanksgiving sermon and all the Pilgrims united in thanking God for His goodness
to them.
The first Thanksgiving was nearly four hundred years ago. Since that time,
Thanksgiving has been kept by the people of our nation as the great family
festival of the year. At this time children and grandchildren return to the old
home, the long table is spread, and brothers and sisters, who had been
separated, again seat themselves side by side.
Thanksgiving is our season of sweet and blessed memories.
Author Unknown
Thanks For The Thorns
Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks as
she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop
door. Her life had been easy, like a Spring breeze. Then
in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor
Automobile accident stole her ease. During this
Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She
grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough her
husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her
sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying
she could not come. What's worse, Sandra's friend
infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given
path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with
others who suffer. "Had she lost a child? -No--she has
no idea what I'm feeling," Sandra shuddered.
"Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered. "For a
careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he
rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but
took that of her child?"
"Good afternoon, can I help you?" The flower shop
clerk's approach startled her. "Sorry," said the clerk,
Jenny, "I just didn't want you to think I was ignoring
you."
"I.... I need an arrangement."
"For Thanksgiving?"
Sandra nodded.
"Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like
to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the
Thanksgiving Special." Jenny saw Sandra's curiosity and
continued. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories,
that each arrangement insinuates a particular feeling.
Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude
this Thanksgiving?"
"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted. "Sorry, but in the last
five months, everything that could go wrong has." Sandra
regretted her outburst but was surprised when Jenny
said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you." The
door's small bell suddenly rang.
"Barbara! Hi," Jenny said. She politely excused herself
from Sandra and walked toward a small workroom. She
quickly reappeared carrying a massive arrangement of
greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Only, the
ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped, no flowers.
"Want this in a box?" Jenny asked.
Sandra watched for Barbara's response. Was this a joke?
Who would want rose stems and no flowers! She waited for
laughter, for someone to notice the absence of flowers
atop the thorny stems, but neither woman did.
"Yes, please. It's exquisite," said Barbara. "You'd
think after three years of getting the special, I'd not
be so moved by its significance, but it's happening
again. My family will love this one. Thanks." Sandra
stared. "Why so normal a conversation about so strange
an arrangement?" she wondered. "Ah. . ." said Sandra,
pointing. "That lady just left with, ah. . ."
"Yes?"
"Well, she had no flowers!"
"Right, I cut off the flowers."
"Off?"
"Off. Yep. That's the Special. I call it the
Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."
"But, why do people pay for that?" In spite of herself
she chuckled.
"Do you really want to know?"
"I couldn't leave this shop without knowing. I'd think
about nothing else!"
"That might be good," said Jenny. "Well," she continued,
"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very
much like you feel today. She thought she had very
little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to
cancer, the family business was failing, her son was
into drugs, and she faced major surgery."
"Ouch!" said Sandra.
"That same year, I lost my husband. I assumed complete
responsibility for the shop and for the first time,
spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband,
no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any
travel."
"What did you do?"
"I learned to be thankful for thorns."
Sandra's eyebrows lifted. "Thorns?"
"I'm a Christian, Sandra. I've always thanked God for
good things in life and I never thought to ask Him why
good things happened to me? But, when bad stuff hit, did
I ever ask! It took time to learn that dark times are
important. I always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life but it
took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You
know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're
afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort
others."
Sandra gasped. "A friend read that passage to me and I
was furious! I guess the truth is I don't want comfort.
I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God." She started to
ask Jenny to "go on" when the door's bell diverted their
attention. "Hey, Phil!" shouted Jenny as a balding,
rotund man entered the shop. She softly touched Sandra's
arm and moved to welcome him. He tucked her under his
arm at his side for a warm hug. "I'm here for twelve
thorny long-stemmed stems!" Phil laughed, heartily.
"I figured as much," said Jenny. "I've got them ready."
She lifted a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the
refrigerated cabinet.
"Beautiful," said Phil. "My wife will love them."
Sandra could not resist asking. "These are for your
wife?"
Phil saw that Sandra's curiosity matched his when he
first heard of a Thorn Bouquet.
"Do you mind me asking, "Why thorns?"
"In fact, I'm glad you asked," he said. "Four years ago
my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we
were in a real mess, but we slogged through, problem by
rotten problem. We rescued our marriage, our love,
really. Last year at Thanksgiving I stopped in here for
flowers. I must have mentioned surviving a tough process
because Jenny told me that for a long time she kept a
vase of rose stems-stems! - as a reminder of what she
learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for
me. I took home stems. My wife and I decided to label
each one for a specific thorny situation and give thanks
for what the problem taught us. I'm pretty sure this
stem review is becoming a tradition." Phil paid Jenny,
thanked her again and as he left, said to Sandra, "I
highly recommend the Special!"
"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my
life," Sandra said to Jenny.
"Well, my experience says that thorns make roses more
precious. We treasure God's providential care more
during trouble than at any other time. Remember, Sandra,
Jesus wore a crown of thorns so that we might know His
love. Do not resent thorns."
Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time
since the accident she loosened her grip on resentment.
"I'll take twelve long-stemmed thorns, please."
"I hoped you would," Jenny said. "I'll have them ready
in a minute. Then, every time you see them, remember to
appreciate both good and hard times. We grow through
both."
"Thank you. What do I owe you?"
"Nothing. Nothing but a pledge to work toward healing
your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on
me." Jenny handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach a card
like this to your arrangement but maybe you'd like to
read it first. Go ahead, read it."
"My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn! I have
thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never
once for my thorn. Teach me the glory of the cross I
bear, teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I
have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that
my tears have made my rainbow. -George Matheson"
Jenny said, "Happy Thanksgiving, Sandra," handing her
the Special. "I look forward to our knowing each other
better."
Sandra smiled. She turned, opened the door, and walked
toward hope!
Author Unknown
The
First Thanksgiving Proclamation
On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a
meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had
seen their community securely established. By unanimous vote they instructed
Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. That
proclamation is reproduced here in the same language and spelling as the
original.
While the proclamation quoted on this page is the oldest extant thanksgiving
proclamation, the thanksgiving being announced was by no means the first
thanksgiving. The Plymouth Thanksgiving traditionally regarded as the first
thanksgiving took place in 1621, the fall after the Mayflower pilgrims arrived.
"The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive
dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land,
written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in
this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his
judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day
of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations
of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from
Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of
late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without
such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be
the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive
Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and
fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning
mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with
Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing
Afflictions:
The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this
instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his
Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we
doubt not those who are sensible of God's Afflictions, have been as diligent to
espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering
Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective
Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to
keep the same Beseeching that being perswaded by the mercies of God we may all,
even this whole people offer up our bodies and soulds as a living and acceptable
Service unto God by Jesus Christ."
Author Unknown
Continental
Congress Thanksgiving Proclamation 1782
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
IN COMMITTEE of SAFETY,
EXETER, November 1, 1782.
ORDERED,
THAT the following Proclamation for a general THANKSGIVING on the twenty-eighth
day of November instant, received from the honorable Continental Congress, be
forthwith printed, and sent to the several worshipping Assemblies in this State,
to whom it is recommended religiously to observe said day, and to abstain from
all servile labour thereon.
M. WEARE, President.
By the United States in Congress assembled.
PROCLAMATION.
IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their
supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious
assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give
him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal
interpositions of his providence in their behalf: Therefore the United States in
Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine
goodness to these States, in the course of the important conflict in which they
have been so long engaged; the present happy and promising state of public
affairs; and the events of the war, in the course of the year now drawing to a
close; particularly the harmony of the public Councils, which is so necessary to
the success of the public cause; the perfect union and good understanding which
has hitherto subsisted between them and their Allies, notwithstanding the artful
and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to divide them; the success of the
arms of the United States, and those of their Allies, and the acknowledgment of
their independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must
be of great and lasting advantage to these States:----- Do hereby recommend to
the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several
States to interpose their authority in appointing and commanding the observation
of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn
THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all
ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful
obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his
influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great
foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.
Done in Congress, at Philadelphia, the eleventh day of October, in the year of
our LORD one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and of our Sovereignty and
Independence, the seventh.
JOHN HANSON, President.
Charles Thomson, Secretary.
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George Washington's
1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty
God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore
His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their
joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a
day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with
grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by
affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for
their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November
next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great
and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that
is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our
sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this
country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies
and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion
of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we
have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been
enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness,
and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and
religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring
and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various
favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and
supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon
our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or
private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and
punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by
constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly
and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and
nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with
good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of
true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and,
generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He
alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d dy of October, A.D. 1789.
(signed) G. Washington
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The King's
Thanksgiving
Every child in the village was very much excited on account of the news that had
come down from the castle on the hill.
Because it had been such a rich harvest, the fields yellow with grain and the
orchards crimson with fruit, the King was going to keep a thanksgiving day. He
was going to ask some child from the village to come up the hill to the castle
and eat dinner with the Prince and Princess. It was rumored, too, that this
child would be given good gifts by the King. But it must be a very special kind
of child indeed. That they all knew.
Then the village children remembered everything that had been told them by their
mothers, and their grandmothers, and their great-grandmothers about the castle
kitchen. Scores of cooks and scullery boys were kept busy there night and day.
The fires always glowed to roast the rich fowls that turned on the spits. The
cake bowls and the soup pots were never empty. Spices and herbs from far
countries, strawberries when the ground was covered with snow, ices of all the
rainbow colors, and cream so thick that a knife could cut it—all these were to
be found in the King's kitchen.
There were dishes of gold and silver upon which to serve the fine foods, and a
hothouse of rare flowers with which to deck the table, and linen as fine as a
cobweb and as beautiful in pattern as snowflakes to cover it. Oh, a thanksgiving
day in the castle would be very wonderful indeed, the children thought, and each
hoped that he or she would be chosen to go.
The day before this day of thanksgiving the messenger of the King came down from
the castle and went from door to door of the homes in the village. He went first
to the house of the burgomaster. It was a very pretentious house with tall
pillars in front, and it stood on a wide street. It seemed likely that the
burgomaster's child might be chosen to go with the messenger to the castle for
the thanksgiving. She was dressed in silk, and her hair was curled, and the
burgomaster had packed a great hamper with sweets as an offering for the King.
"Are you ready to keep the feast as the King would like you to?" asked the
messenger.
"Oh, yes!" said the burgomaster's child. "I have on my best dress, and here are
plenty of sweets to eat. Will you take me?"
But the messenger shook his head, for the child was not ready
Then the King's messenger went on until he came to the house where the captain
of the guards lived. The captain's little boy was quite sure that he would be
chosen to go with the messenger to the castle for the thanksgiving. He wore a
uniform with silver braid and buttons like that which the guards wore. A sword
hung at his side, and he wore a soldier's cap. He held the cap in his hand, so
that he could put it on quickly.
"Are you ready to keep the thanksgiving day as the King would like you to?"
asked the messenger.
"Oh, yes!" said the child of the captain of the guards. "I have my sword here
and I can fight any one who crosses our path on the way to the castle. Will you
take me?"
But the messenger went on again and he came to the baker's shop. The baker's boy
stood at the door, dressed in his best white suit, and holding an empty basket
on his arm. He was quite sure that he would be chosen to go to the palace, for
his father's bake shop was an important place in the village. They measured
their flour carefully, and weighed the loaves so that they might receive the
utmost penny for each. They very seldom had any crumbs left for the poor, but
they were selling a great deal of bread every day.
"Are you ready to keep the thanksgiving day as the King would like you to?" the
messenger asked of the baker's boy.
"Oh, yes!" the boy said. "I have this basket to gather up whatever remains of
the King's feast and bring it home with me. The King would not want anything
wasted. Will you take me?"
But the messenger shook his head a third time, for the child was not ready.
Then he did not know which way to go, and he began to think that he would not be
able to find any guest for the King's feast. As he waited, he saw two children,
a girl and a boy, coming toward him. They were poor children, and one was
leading the other, for he was lame. The messenger looked at them. The little
girl had eyes like stars and her hair, blowing in the November wind, was like a
cloud made golden by the sunset. She held her head so high, and smiled so
bravely that no one would have noticed her old dress and the holes in her coat.
The messenger stood in the road in front of her and spoke to her.
"Are you ready to keep the thanksgiving day as the King would like you to?" he
asked.
The little girl looked up in the messenger's face in surprise.
"No, I am not ready," she said, "but this child is. I am bringing him because he
is lame, and because he is hungry. Will you take him?" she asked.
"Yes," said the messenger, "and you, too. There is room at the King's table for
both."
Author Unknown
Did You Know?
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of
imprisonment, agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation…you are ahead of 500
million people in the world.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture
or death…you are fortunate, more than three billion people in the world can’t.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and
a place to sleep…you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you can read this you are more blessed than over two billion people in the
world that cannot read at all?
A great reminder of how blessed many of us are and how we are to be thankful to
our gracious and loving God.
Author Unknown
The Richest Man
A rich landowner named Carl often rode around his vast estate so he could
congratulate himself on his great wealth. One day, while riding around his
estate on his favorite horse, he saw Hans, an old tenant farmer. Hans was
sitting under a tree when Carl rode by. Hans said, "I was just thanking God for
my food." Carl protested, "If that is all I had to eat I wouldn't feel like
giving thanks." Hans replied, "God has given me everything I need, and I am
thankful for it."
The old farmer added, "It is strange you should come by today because I had a
dream last night. In my dream a voice told me, 'The richest man in the
valley will die tonight.' I don't know what it means, but I thought I ought to
tell you." Carl snorted, "Dreams are nonsense," and galloped away, but he could
not forget Hans' words: "The richest man in the valley will die tonight."
He was obviously the richest man in the valley, so he invited his doctor to his
house that evening. Carl told the doctor what Hans had said. After a thorough
examination, the doctor told the wealthy landowner, "Carl, you are as strong and
healthy as a horse. There is no way you are going to die tonight."
Nevertheless, for assurance, the doctor stayed with Carl, and they played cards
through the night. The doctor left the next morning and Carl apologized for
becoming so upset over the old man's dream.
At about nine o'clock, a messenger arrived at Carl's door. "What is it?" Carl
demanded. The messenger explained, "It's about old Hans. He died last night in
his sleep."
Like Hans, believers are the richest people on earth. Paul understood that when
he wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ." (Eph. 1:3)
Be sure to give God thanks for the wealth He has given us- for you are the
richest person in the valley.
Author Unknown