An open home, an open heart,
here grows a bountiful harvest.
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- Judy Hand
Find out what's happening in Deerfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
I grew in atheistic home in Poland, so praying was a strange custom to me. Even studying philosophy of religion did not attract my attention to praying. When I came to this country, I learned how many religions this world has, and I also learned spirituality. From being guest to a lot of American families, I learned that Americans bless the food before they start the meal. I found a beautiful food blessing prayer which I want to share with you. That prayer means a lot to me, since I know how many people in this world go to bed hungry, our country included. Today on the news I have heard about the organization, which found a way to collect food from farms for free. They know the harvesting plan for every plant grown on American fields, and when the harvest is completed they arrive and pick up what is left, intentionally or unintentionally. It turns out that very often farmers leave the fruits of their labor on the fields because the land produced more they could sell. That food is turned into the nutrients for the land. But the farmers do not mind that people will pick it up for hungry ones.
What I learned about this country is that for one confused heart there are millions full of love. Being American is a reason to be proud.
Happy Thanksgiving! May this prayer make your holiday meal very special.
The Gift of Food
Today, help me focus on the beauty of nature all around me. When I think about the important holidays ahead, bless me with the joy and excitement our ancestors felt when they first realized the results of their hard work. Let me remember that the first Thanksgiving was about the gift of food that sprung from the land and the work of our ancestors’ hands. I will center myself on that joy again as I prepare and share food with my own family and friends. When I say, “Bless this food that we share,” help me really mean it as I think about the farmers and workers who made it possible for me to have so much. Help me also to keep close to my heart those who are not as blessed.
- Jean Lowe
