Thanksgiving at The Dale

You’d think that people living in poverty wouldn’t have much to be thankful for.
But you’d be wrong.
Oh so very wrong.

I was reminded of that in church yesterday at The Dale. People kept listing things they were thankful for. Not big houses or shiny cars or other crap like that.
But for people.
Community.
For being alive.
One Person was thankful for clean clothes…

For me I found myself thankful for the incredible unity amongst so much diversity.
There were;
-Young children and senior citizens.
-people with different colours of skin.
-Syrian refugees and people born and raised right here in Canada.
-people in wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and able-bodied folks.

-people who had homes and people who did not.
-people who speak English and some who did not.
-people with obvious significant mental health issues and others who had mental health issues a bit harder to spot.
-People of different genders including someone who is transgendered.
-some first timers to the church and some who are always there.

The beauty was that amidst all of our diversity we were one body worshipping the same God. I found myself forgetting all about my own plight in life and overwhelmed with gratitude. I have so much to be thankful for.

At the end of the service one of the youngest people there requested we sing one final closing song. I will end here as it is beautiful and my prayer for this thanksgiving day.

Prayer of thanksgiving

Jesus put this song into our hearts.
It’s a song of joy no one can
take away,
Jesus put this song
into our hearts.

Jesus taught us how to live in harmony.
Different faces different races
He made us one
Jesus taught us how to live
in harmony.

Jesus taught us how to be a family
Loving one another with love
that He gives
Jesus taught us how to be
a family.

Jesus turned our sorrow into dancing.
Changed our tears of sadness into rivers of joy,
Jesus turned our sorrow
into dancing.

Amen