From Sarah Josepha Hale, "Editor's Table," Godey's Lady's Book
All the blessings of the fields,
All the stores the garden yields,
All the plenty summer pours,
Autumn's rich, o'erflowing stores,
Peace, prosperity and health,
Private bliss and public wealth,
Knowledge with its gladdening streams,
Pure religion's holier beams --
Lord, for these our souls shall raise
Grateful vows and solemn praise.
As you may or may not know, Sarah Hale could be considered the "mother" of Thanksgiving. She lobbyed long and hard for it to be declared a national holiday and she is accredited for bringing the idea to Lincoln's attention. By the time Lincoln declared it in 1863 she had written thousands of letters on the subject.
More about Sarah Josepha Hale
Best Years
Domestic Goddesses
eSSORTMENT
I did not actually mean for this to be about Sarah Josepha Hale. I was wanting to write about being thankful but I found that verse and it very quietly inspired me. I read more about her and she is a very amazing woman that was years ahead of her time. She is a national treasure and I find it sad that I never learned about her in school. For instance, how many of you knew that she wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb"?
It's distressing that in this time of plenty, not many people stop to think about the origins of Thanksgiving or even really to be grateful. The word grateful does not exist in most peoples daily thoughts anymore. So, as you celebrate the holiday, in whatever way you choose, make a list of at least five things that you're grateful for. Commit it to heart and do this everyday. And you don't have to stop at five! List them all, one by one, as you think of them. Gratitude is one of the most powerful and strongest parts of our foundation, and unfortunately it is too often overlooked. I am grateful that my children are healthy, we have a roof over our heads, good wholesome food in our bellies (much to the children's despair :D), warm clothing, and that my husband has a job. I'm even grateful that my cardamom plant is still alive. Can't think of five things? Yes you can. There are a ton of daily reminders to be grateful; just look around you. Look at it this way: forget about what you lack and learn to recognize what you already have.
If you still can't think of anything, check out this beautiful site: Time to Give Thanks.
Hear A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Robert Louis Stevenson read aloud.
The Garland of Gratitude is a fun easy project that is not only beautiful, but will help you realize just how much you already have to be thankful for.
James colored these pictures here and here. I had seen them before when looking for Thanksgiving printables and I thought they were appropriate.
Giving Thanks was the book read at Church last Sunday, during story time. It is most appropriate for this season.
The boys dug out their recently aquired copy of Veggie Tales Madame Blueberry to watch. This was also very appropriate since it was all about not being greedy, being grateful about what you already have, and having a "happy heart". This is a nice one.
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