 Posted Friday, November 19, 2004 6:54 AM
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One of the best things that growing up in a Christian Science home did for me was to set the focus on gratitude. From the chapter on prayer, through Wednesday evening meetings, on to the special service on Thanksgiving Day, there was a focus on being grateful to God. However much we may disagree with other aspects of CS theology or practice, I think every Christian can unite in recognizing the importance of gratitude to God.
I began a tradition when I was relatively young, I think around 20, when I had my first apartment. This tradition was to write a Thanksgiving letter to someone, and it varied from year to year, pouring out my gratitude. It was kind of like an "on paper" version of a Thanksgiving testimony, but not quite, because my audience wasn't always a Christian Scientist! And the advantage of that was that I wasn't bound to be grateful only for spiritual gifts, but for the simple things I saw, heard, felt, tasted or smelled! Those liars, the physical senses... and yet, so much joy (as well as pain) comes through them!
Of course in those pen and paper days, my letter went out to usually just one person. If I wrote more than one, each would be unique. Sometimes it would be a grandmother or other family member. In the years before we married, it was the man who eventually became my husband. After we moved away, it was a friend back in the old town, or my mom, or one of my sisters. The important thing was to write it.
With the advent of technology to support it, and forums like these, this kind of expression of gratitude can go out to larger groups. This year, I'm posting it here, because finding this forum is among the things I'm especially grateful for this year. I have come to think of you as fellow travellers and friends.
I am grateful for life... to be alive and to breathe the air. I am grateful for the ability to smell... to experience the changes in season with this added dimension, the woodsmoke of Winter, the ozone before the Spring rain, the warm decay of Summer grass cuttings, the dry leaf scent of Autumn, signalling harvest and this season of Thanksgiving approaching.
I am grateful to have meaningful work to do. Looking back at the idealism of my youth, I'm sure I don't measure up to the "change the world" vision I had at 20. Now that I have matured and come to feel keenly the shortness of one's stay on this planet, I pray that enough of what I do is helpful to others and does make the world better in some small way.
I am grateful for the trials in my life, and for God's hand in bringing me through to the other side. A friend wrote me a question the other week about whether one felt closer to God in good times or in bad. And you know, I have to honestly say that some of the times I have felt closest to Him were times when I was at the figurative "end of my rope". As the Bible promises in Psalm 139 (esp. verse 8), there is nowhere I can go, physically or mentally where He cannot reach me. The old addage about "man's extremity is God's opportunity" has been true in my life. Not that I am ungrateful for the good times, nor that I don't feel close to God then, but when things are going well, it's easy to give lip service to God's hand in things while internally taking credit for having done something myself.
I am blown away by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, accepting this "fate" to save others, sinners, such as me, that all fall short of perfection. If any of us were in His shoes, could we have done it? Would we have? Obviously, we aren't God incarnate, and I'm grateful that isn't my role. I pray that I can and will fulfil whatever role He gives me, in His service.
We don't have control over when or to whom we are born. We don't have perfect judgement in our choices in life. We all make mistakes, sometimes we make intentional ones, mostly we make ignorant ones. Because of this, I am grateful for the gift of learning, and teaching, and for the blessing of forgiveness!
Thanks be to God, thanks to all here, and I invite others to share their own gratitude in this thread, perhaps focussed on a point in the road from where you were to where you are, that shows Jesus' tender care in leading you onward!
- Jean W.
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Posted Friday, November 19, 2004 9:41 AM
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I remain hesitant while writing about God on this thread so feel especially grateful this morning to Jean W. for writing her words and expressing her feelings about Thanksgiving (for me). Although my CS childhood was much different from hers, I do have memories of Thanksgiving which substantially remind me that my mother wasn't totally nuts.
Although I've been proud of the fact for the past 20+ years for not stepping foot into a mall between the Friday after Thanksgiving and at least into the first week of January, the other day the thought came to me that I should extend this time period. Somehow Halloween and Christmas have become a tag-team operation. Down go the witches and skeletons, up goes Santa in all the shopping centers and malls across the nation. The only place any mention of our November holiday can be seen is at a grocery store that has piled sale cans of pumpkin into the aisles.
I'm old enough to remember when the actual day (although always a Thursday) was up for discussion and change. FDR moved it back (or is it up?) in order to provide an extra week for Christmas shopping. Some states complied, others didn't. Later the last Thursday in November was decided and here it stays.
No presents, no wailing children breaking toys, no guilt about Christmas cards not sent.....and more to the point....no gagging while reading those notorious 'Christmas letters' that some people think we want to read about 'Bobby getting into Harvard.'
Thanks, Jean.....you've made my day.
Nyoka
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Posted Friday, November 19, 2004 9:48 PM
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This year, I'm posting it here, because finding this forum is among the things I'm especially grateful for this year. I have come to think of you as fellow travellers and friends.
JeanW,
Thank you so much for sharing your letter with us -- you have given us a gift. Your words hit home with me as I found myself also feeling thankful for the things you talked about. I am also grateful for the sense of peace that eluded me for so many years.
My post-CS journey was very lonely until I finally began to connect with people who could understand "where I'd been." The Internet, including Christian Way and this forum, has played a big part in making that connection possible.
A couple years ago the pastor of my church asked people to stand up and name something for which they were grateful. I stood up and said, "I'm thankful for the Internet!" -- and then told them how the Internet had allowed me to connect with former Christian Scientists.
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Posted Saturday, November 20, 2004 8:14 AM
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Thanks for sharing, Nyoka & Linda,
Amen to "not stepping foot into a mall between the Friday after Thanksgiving and at least into the first week of January" ... don't know if I can pull it off, but it sounds like a fine goal! The important thing for me this time of year is keeping the focus on the true meaning of the advent season, "keeping the Christ in Christmas", cliche though it is.
And a second amen to "the Internet had allowed me to connect with former Christian Scientists". It is an incredible feeling to know you weren't the only one. This is especially true for those of us who were in small churches.
- JeanW
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Posted Saturday, November 20, 2004 9:35 AM
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Jean W. and all,
Hi and please accept my best wishes for a joyous Thanksgiving. I sincerely have to say that you have made mine far more special by what you have written above. For each of you and for this website, I am profoundly grateful. I feel deeply enriched by the sharing and caring given on this site. True healing and spiritual growth may be witnessed here.
Jean, what a wonderful tradition to have started and what a great way to celebrate the true meaning of the holiday! YOU are a blessing, indeed! -- Grace
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Posted Saturday, November 20, 2004 7:50 PM
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I am so grateful for Linda's ministry to exers and CS alike through her well-reasoned, well-researched book and the Christian Way website. This is the first time I've ever been able to contact exers outside my family. I love it that I have been able to meet so many Christians. It is such a blessing. I have come to a much better understanding of myself and my family through the writings of all the posters. I feel like this web site is a real community and am so pleased that it can help us minister to one another through it.
I am so thankful for all your efforts and fellowship.
I also take the pledge to avoid malls from Thanksgiving til Epiphany!
May God bless all your holiday travel! 
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Posted Saturday, November 20, 2004 8:50 PM
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Thank you Jean, friend, for your post. It does make you think about what we overlook a lot of times... being grateful for what we DO have. I always get anxious right at Thanksgiving time... and it goes right on through 'til Christmas. There are SO many expectations from everywhere! It is very hard to focus on Christ, His birth. It's even hard to REMEMBER to be thankful at Thanksgiving! The letter idea is a very good one! I'll have to try it. Seems to get harder and harder each year. (Nyoka, This year the halloween crud went up in AUGUST at our Walmart... Christmas in October. It's awful. So commercial.) I am thankful for this forum because I would not know what I know now... you all have helped.
Thanks for sharing. I really appreciate you!
Me
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Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 2:52 PM
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Thanks for starting this, JeanW. I like this even better than the tearoom! I starting writing what I was thankful for to post on this thread and began to come up with so many things I couldn't possibly post it here - and most of the things would mean nothing to anyone here. My utmost gratitude goes to our Lord and Savior for His saving grace and next I would like to add my thanks for this web-site and all of YOU! We are truly blessed to have each other. May the Lord shower you and yours with His blessings as we begin Advent.
Blessings,
Susan
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Posted Wednesday, November 24, 2004 6:22 PM
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A positive tradition I recall from CS Thanksgiving Day services is the tradition of reading the President's Proclamation. I suppose CS is not alone in that as it is also read in my church during our Thanksgiving service. In case anyone doesn't hear it and would like to read it, here is a link to this year's proclamation - Thanksgiving Day, 2004.
Do Go Be Man
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Posted Thursday, November 25, 2004 12:36 AM
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