A Month of Thanksgiving!
The month of Thanksgiving is here! I say “month” because there really is so much
to be thankful for that not all of it can fit into a single day. Starting right off, the month begins with All
Souls Day. Though classically this observance
is tied to the religiously faithful, the meaning behind it is still beautiful
and poignant even if you’re not religious.
The day was set aside to offer prayers for the deceased (In the
religious context, it was intended to offer prayers for those who had died
being faithful to doctrine). To me,
whether one was religious or not, All Souls Day is an opportunity to honor and
give thanks to our loved ones whose spirits gave us so much while alive, and
lets them know they are not forgotten while they continue their journeys in the
worlds of Spirit.
Next comes Veterans Day, November 11, in honor of what our
men and women in the military have endured throughout the history of our
country and their work throughout the world.
How many have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom? I’m sure all of us would agree the death of
just one person would be “too much.”
Thus, the incredible importance of this date in honoring the lives of
all our military, both living and sacrificed.
Another reason to hold this day deep within our hearts is
due to its origin … November 11, 1918.
Such bloodshed and traumatic loss had not been so profoundly experienced
before during World War I, at least not in the memories of those who were going
through it. Destruction and loss of life
appeared on a massive scale, using technology developed during the burgeoning
industrial revolution. World War I was
nicknamed “The Great War,” and for good reason … nearly 38 million casualties,
ranking it among the deadliest conflicts in human history. The war officially ended when the Treaty of
Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, fighting ceased seven months
earlier when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into
effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that
reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Perhaps if we could remember that point,
someday it might come true. So be sure
to take time on Wednesday, November 11th, to be thankful for
everyone in our military, past, present, and future, for all they go through –
the fears, the turmoil, the sacrifices.
Many of us, myself included, could never be so brave.
Of course, like a bow to tie off a package, there’s the
national holiday of Thanksgiving. Family,
friends, and lots of great FOOD --to celebrate all that we have to be thankful
for throughout the year. To me, it’s
similar to All Souls Day, except that the focus for me is on living people rather than the
deceased. Why? Because it is so important to honor all our
connections. When we pass from this
life, we can’t take anything with us – all we have are the bonds of our
relationships. We take with us the love
and memories of the people in our lives, and that’s it. Yes, we’ll take with us lessons we’ve learned
from our earthly journey, but it’s our bonds to others that sustain us. In mediumship, we often deal with clients (both
living and on the Other Side) who discovered those bonds were unfortunately taken
for granted, in which death has forced to bring to light. For this reason, it’s important to reflect on
our bonds now – Thanksgiving for the relationships we have – so we don’t feel
regret when the inevitable happens.
Ultimately, November is about LOVE. Love for those who have gone before us; who
have made the ultimate sacrifice and faced the ultimate terrors; and for those
whose love continues to nurture and sustain us -- a month truly about all the
lives for which there can be nothing but Thanksgiving.
So let me say, I am
thankful to all of you for allowing me to be of service. It has truly been an honor. I look forward to being of service in the
years to come. Happy Thanksgiving!
