‘Thanksgiving Celebration’ – Perfect Holiday Gift Book

Here it is: The perfect little Thanksgiving gift for those you want to bless during this time of gratitude for God’s abundant blessings in our lives. This small soft-cover book is a seasonal collection of scriptures, pictures, and Thanksgiving poems and essays by my father Ted Pavloff and me. The cover features the photography of my sister Brenda Calvert, so it’s really a family collaboration.

Only 25 pages long, measuring 5 1/5 x 8 1/2,  it is just the right size to pick up and enjoy for a few moments of seasonal pleasure in the weeks anticipating Thanksgiving Day or in the hours after dinner, when you’re letting your turkey and dressing settle.

$4.00 on Amazon. You can find your copy at this link.

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Celebrating Thanksgiving in Poetry

The past 3 or 4 years, I have written one or two Thanksgiving poems in November. This year, I thought I’d just post the whole collection together.

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Ah, Thanksgiving, How I Love You!

Ah, Thanksgiving, how I love you!
Golden crowning jewel of Fall,
Beacon of warmth and camaraderie,
Sending glad invitation to all:

“Gather to worship; gather to visit;
Gather to focus on all that’s worthwhile;
Feast from tables resplendent with harvest;
Feast on the love in a touch and a smile.”

All the year’s labors weigh heavy upon us.
All the world’s problems seem bigger by far.
But out from that wearisome struggle you call us,
And laying it down, we run to where you are.

And whether in cottages, mansions, or churches,
Community buildings, or tables in parks,
We gather with gratitude full – overflowing;
To the Giver of blessings lift voices and hearts.

Then we return to life’s pattern awaiting.
Filled up with joy, we set off on our way,
Warmer and richer and kinder in spirit
For pausing to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

~

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 Healing Holiday

Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner,
And I am set to have a lovely time.
First I’ll make a jaunt to church and, kneeling down,
I’ll thank the Lord for all His blessings kind.

And then I’ll journey farther to meet kith and kin.
We’ll hug and laugh and tell each other news.
Then next I’ll help dish up the yummy treats in store;
So many dishes, all from which to choose.

Then after eating more than I could ever need,
And going back again for one more pinch,
I’ll sit by fireplace warm and cuddle little ones,
And soon we’ll be asleep; it is a cinch.

Oh, my, how dear Thanksgiving is to all of us.
It gives us one whole day when we can part
From all that pulls and presses us and wounds us sore,
And give ourselves to healing, loving hearts.

~

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What’s For Dinner?

I spot him there, behind the barn,
A full-plumed, regal bird.
He looks up, straight into my eyes.
I speak no single word.

It’s happened thus, in passing years —
At least for two or three:
Each mid-November I’ve set my mind;
He’s been there to greet me.

Now, lifting his head in challenge strong,
He gobbles loud and long.
I lower my gun and heave a sigh:
To kill him would be wrong!

So, wrestling with my double mind,
I trek home to my wife
To explain why, once again this year,
Ham will greet the carving knife.

~

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THANKSGIVING

Thursdays come and go; in every month there’s four or five.
Hardly anyone’s attention they demand.
Ahhh, but there’s one month when Thursday is a special day.
November’s got the situation well in hand.
Kinsmen, young and old, along with neighbors, best of friends,
Stop their normal labor briefly and, instead,
Gather close, declare a feast, and celebrate all day
In churches, homes, and civic halls – wherever led.
Voices glad and warm with love fill up the heart and soul,
Inviting those attending to lay burdens down.
Neath autumn’s healthy harvest, tables beckon us – so come;
Giving thanks to God, now let us gather ’round.

~

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A Lesson in Thanksgiving

Edward Percy Moran

Pilgrims reached the blessed shore,
But bitter winters were in store.
Death and anguish played their part.
Still, ’twas with a thankful heart
That they gathered to expound
Upon the God whose gifts abound.

We, who in their footsteps trod,
Though they lay beneath the sod,
Now do take the lesson learned
From their lives, and, in our turn,
We prepare to thank and praise;
To that same God our anthems raise.

And just as they faced troubled days,
Through hardships grievous made their ways,
So, now, such grievous times we face,
That ne’er before have taken place.
Yet from their lesson we take heart
And lift our songs with grateful hearts.

We will not bow to troubled thoughts,
Nor in the throws of fear be caught,
We have too rich a heritage.
So with forefathers we engage
To praise and sing and laugh and play
And celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

~~~

A Holiday Acrostic

 

 

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To Veterans …

 

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Lenten Lesson – Week 4

This week the lesson includes a scripture passage, of course, but following that I have posted all the words of the hymn “Just As I Am”  (by Charlotte Elliott). I felt strongly impressed of the Lord that these words would be a rich blessing to some readers this week.

“Unto Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in Thee I trust. Do not let me be ashamed.” (Psalm 25:1-2).

Just As I Am  (Charlotte Elliott)

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am; Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down.
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 

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Priorities

Forget about inconsequential things like halloween and concentrate on what’s REALLY important: THANKSGIVING and CHRISTMAS!

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A Lesson in ‘Thanksgiving’

I absolutely refuse to celebrate halloween (or even capitalize the word), but I most definitely celebrate Thanksgiving. And it’s Thanksgiving (November 28th this year) that’s been on my mind a lot lately. Hence my new Thanksgiving poem. I’ll share it with all of you and help you get into the mood with me.

A LESSON IN THANKSGIVING

Pilgrims reached the blessed shore,
But bitter winters were in store.
Death and anguish played their part.
Still, ’twas with a thankful heart
That they gathered to expound
Upon the God whose gifts abound.

We, who in their footsteps trod,
Though they lie beneath the sod,
Now do take the lesson learned
From their lives, and, in our turn,
We prepare to thank and praise;
To that same God our anthems raise.

And just as they faced troubled days,
Through hardships grievous made their ways,
So, now, such grievous times we face,
That ne’er before have taken place.
Yet from their lesson we take heart
And lift our songs with grateful hearts.

We will not bow to troubled thoughts,
Nor in the throes of fear be caught,
We have too rich a heritage.
So with forefathers we engage
To praise and sing and laugh and play
And celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

~~~

I’m Doing Christmas

Just a note to let you all know that for the rest of this month, I’ll be spending most of my time at my “Merry Christmas, World!” site — doing Christmas. Most of what you’ll see on here during that time will be re-blogged from there.

So if you look for me or comment here and don’t hear from me, just hop over there, and you’re sure to find me.  

Come and visit, prepared to share.  Remember there is a special page just for you to share anything you’d like to share about your own Christmas — family traditions, national traditions, memories, recipes, favorites of all kinds. Here’s the link: 

http://christmasiscalling.wordpress.com/.  

When you get there, if you look over in the right-hand widget area, you’ll see the page “Christmas In My World.”  Click on that page and share whatever you like.