A Poem of Thanksgiving

THANKS

It's that time of year.

Crisp and cold.  And almost Thanksgiving.

I remember Thanksgiving dinners at Grandpa and Grandma 

Rosenthal's.

Grandpa at the head of the table,

carving the turkey with a ninja sword knife.

Grandma's carefully manicured hands,

offering us French cut green beans with

 almonds.

We little ones at the children's table, 

olives on our f ingers, all around.

Most of all at Thanksgiving, I remember hands, clasped around  the table,

heads bowed, words of thanks offered.

I'm thankful this year for hardworking hands

nurturing hands 

welcoming hands

loving hands

olive-adorned hands.

If we can just keep holding hands

with each other,

and with the One who created us all, we'll be okay.

Thanksgiving Blessings. 

-Pastor Joan

Pastor Joan, Chaplain at Sunny View Retirement Community, was a beautiful shining light to residents and staff and a gift to all who knew her. She passed away last March surrounded by friends and family and her faithful dog Benji .