the table of plenty

it's about that time of year again. that time of year when families--whether jointed or disjointed, young or old, together or displaced--travel by car, bus or plane to gather around their own table of goodness. they bring their favorite dishes, games and expectations with them and empty out all three over the course of the next 12 hours of watching football, catching up on school/work, and preparing the heartiest meal of the season. for some, thanksgiving is a time of great pleasure and warmth for others it is a day of great heartache and despair. these days, it seems impossible to celebrate this wonderful feast without remembering those who have very little, if anything. we sometimes feel guilty or ashamed that stuffing ourselves with a variety of casseroles, meats, and desserts (only to find ourselves with upset stomachs and bouts of sleepiness) is wrong and gluttonous. while this may be true, i would argue that it is more important to use these familial gatherings to express our "attitude of gratitude" (to steal a cliche from one of my grade school teachers). GRATITUDE, as it is defined in webster's dictionary, is "the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful," which is derived from the Latin root word 'gratus' meaning 'pleasing.' something that is pleasing is likely to be good, true and beautiful. i would further argue that those things in our lives that are pleasing to us (for me: my faith, family and friends), and that we are grateful for should be remembered and experienced this day and every day (ain't that what leftovers are for). please remember and pray especially for those who have no one (or think they have no one) else to pray for them. they are our brothers and sisters too, and they too have a reservation at the table of plenty. i would like to leave you with the following prayer which has been rehearsed by my family so many times that we too often forget the depth and meaning of our gratitude:

Bless us O Lord, for these thy gifts which we are about to (and have) receive(d) through thy bounty (and thy goodness) through Christ, our Lord, Amen.