Thanksgiving:
It’s more than just one Thursday in the year

Traveling around the diocese, I hear stories of what Episcopal Charities of Long
Island means to folks, or why they choose to give to ECLI. I’d like to share this one:

In the prayer book there is a prayer of thanksgiving that means a lot to me. I first
prayed this prayer on Thanksgiving Day the year I had suffered one of the greatest
disappointments of my life—my marriage had fallen apart and would soon be
ending.

That prayer we prayed at Thanksgiving gave thanks for all that God has done for
us: for creation, life, love. We gave thanks to God for the blessing of family and
friends, thanks for setting us at tasks that demand our best, thanks for our
accomplishments, and (the part that really hurt) thanks for disappointments and
failures. And we prayed that we might give thanks to God at all times, in all
places, in all things. (see the Book of Common Prayer, p. 836)

Praying that prayer aloud, my mind and my heart and my mouth stumbled over
the words. But as I took that prayer with me and continued to pray it, a deep
understanding and an even deeper sense of gratitude welled up from within me.

By the next November, I had made a donation in thanksgiving for my family and
friends who had held me up through their love and support. I made a donation
giving thanks for God, who never lets me go. I have received so much; it is such a
blessing to give in thanksgiving.

What about you and me? How do we translate this prayer into our daily lives? I
believe that we can focus on what we have lost and do not have, or we can give
great and joyful thanks for all that we do have. My choice is to give thanks at all
times, in all places, and in all things.

This Thanksgiving, I invite you to pray this prayer, consider all that you have and all
that you are, and give thanks!

Please give generously to Episcopal Charities of Long Island, 36 Cathedral Avenue, P.O. Box 510, Garden City, NY 11530. To donate using a credit card, please call us at 516-248-4800, ext. 19 and speak with Mrs. Nancy Kennelly, Administrative Assistant. When you make a donation in memory of or in honor of someone, their name will be recorded in the Book of Remembrance and an acknowledgement sent to them.

As individuals and as a community,
we all receive through giving to help others!

Please give generously to
Episcopal Charities of Long Island

36 Cathedral Avenue, P.O. Box 510
Garden City, NY 11530

www.episcopalcharitiesli.org
516-248-4800, ext. 19
The Rev. E. Clare Nesmith, Executive Director

generosity   s  p  r  e  a  d  s