A GENTLE FLURRY OF LEAVES - A THANKSGIVING LITURGY

        A GENTLE FLURRY OF LEAVES – A THANKSGIVING LITURGY                                                                                  Copyright  Frances K. Van Mil

For wind-swept yellow leaves floating by my window like snowflakes all a-whirl,

For rain-soaked gardens boasting sodden stalks, decaying blooms; memories of the sun-filled abundance of summer;

For moon-majesty, stars peeking out through triple-grey clouds, planets aglow in the velvet night sky,

We thank Thee, O Lord.

For friendly eyes above masks bringing faces alive, restoring our humanity,

For caring hands helping other seniors step down from the bus;

For smiles, nods, puppies running ten times more quickly than their owners, with their tiny legs,

We thank Thee, O Lord.

For twin fountains of haunting memory; miners’ monument reflecting the work of years gone by; golden-orange-cranberry trees jutting out from the majestic rock cut,

For blue jays, doves, ravens, sparrows, eagles that hop and soar, telling of the winter,

For squirrels running to and fro, hiding their store of winter food for the winter to come,

We thank Thee, O Lord.

For autumn beauty, the glorious scenery of our beautiful land of Canada,

For the gift of life itself and memories of past joys with hope for the future;

For friendships and family joys,

And most of all, for the gift of eternal life through belief in Your Son Jesus.

For all this, and so much more, we praise Thee, O Lord, on this Thanksgiving day!

AMEN!

 Please note:  The references to the twin fountain and the miners’ monument  refer to my home city of Elliot Lake ON Canada, where two lives were lost in the mall collapse of 2012; and the miners who built up our city in the uranium years.


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