Happy Thanksgiving! Here in Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving in October. It is a time for family reunions and general celebration.
We don't do the pilgrims theme here, but giving thanks is something that everyone can get behind. Years ago, my wife and I were members of a hiking club. One of their main social events of the year was a Thanksgiving Day potluck supper. It was traditional for someone to offer a Christian-themed grace before the meal. Well, someone objected to that, and the following year, there was no grace. That rubbed me the wrong way, because I felt that everyone ought to be thankful, whether religious or not. So the next year I resolved to remedy the situation, and informed the organizers that I would be delivering a non-denominational grace of my own creation. Here it is:
We are gathered here to enjoy a meal of excellent food.
As we enjoy it, let us remember that not everyone will eat tonight.
We have our friends and family around us.
Not everyone will have company tonight.
Tonight, we will go home to a warm bed under a tight roof.
Not everyone will have shelter tonight.
So, as we enjoy this meal and all our other blessings,
let us be thankful for them, and take a moment to remember those who are less fortunate.
It has been many years, but I heard that the club still uses that prayer at their Thanksgiving meals.
