Gratefulnesse

With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, I thought I would write a little about being thankful.  There are lots of blogs out there with free lesson plans, worksheets, historical information and the like – and for those I am thankful. But this post will be about the state of being thankful, which is a place we should find ourselves all of the time, isn’t it?

We say grace for a kind look, or a beautiful poem, or a delightful book, quite as truly as for a good dinner – more so, indeed; for it is true of us also that man doth not live by bread alone. (Mason, Vol. 4, p. 192)

A Book of Golden Deeds of All Times and All Lands by Charlotte Yonge

I am using this book with my 4th and 5th grade children  for citizenship.  The chapter “The Cup of Water” captured their imaginations with the Biblical account of David pouring out a precious cup of water onto the ground.  This water was brought to him by his soldiers who risked their lives for it.  David poured it out as an offering to God.  The author then ties in accounts of Alexander of Macedonia and Rudolf of Hapsburg.  We read that chapter a month ago and they continue to think about it as it has come up in conversation more than once.

I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving with friends, family and maybe a stranger or two. Thank you for reading my blog.  I enjoy your company and comments.  Truly.

Gratefulnesse

Thou that hast giv’n so much to me,
Give one thing more, a gratefull heart:
See how Thy beggar works on Thee
                                           By art:

He makes thy gifts occasion more,
And sayes, If he in this be crost,
All Thou hast given him heretofore
                                            Is lost.

But Thou didst reckon, when at first
Thy word our hearts and hands did crave,
What is would come to at the worst
                                            To save.

Perpetuall knockings at Thy doore,
Tears sullyng Thy transparent rooms,
Gift upon gift; much would have more,
                                             And comes.

This notwithstanding, Thou went’st on,
And didst allow us all our noise;
Nay, Thou hast made a sigh and grone
                                             Thy joyes.

Not that Thou hast not still above
Much better tunes then grones can make,
But that theses countrey-aires Thy love
                                              Did take.

Wherefore I crie, and crie again,
And in no quiet canst Thou be,
Till I a thankfull heart obtain
                                              Of Thee.

Not thankfull when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare dayes;
But such a heart whose pulse may be
                                               Thy praise.

                                                                   -George Herbert

(For more Thanksgiving books, see The Pumpkin Pie Procession and Gratitude.)