Many years ago I lost one of my best friends Angela about two weeks before Thanksgiving. She was a special person, an angel. Angela died after a long battle with breast cancer.
Angela, had a lot of faith and on her hospice bed pulled me towards her lifting me over the rail with such strength, as she whispered to me to never give up my faith. I felt this was a direct order as if she was speaking to me from another dimension and when ever my faith weakens ( we are all only human) I remember her words and continue to gain strength through prayer.
After she died I had a dream the night before Thanksgiving, Angela was leaning on the wall of a building as I strolled past her and noticed her standing there, she looked at me smiled and than with a very serious tone said to me" give thanks, always give thanks" I awoke with the same feeling as I experienced that night at her bedside, except this time it felt more like a warning, that giving thanks and being thankful was important for my soul and to God, so I try every night to thank God for all the positive things in my life no matter how hard some days appear. I have heard more graces are granted to those who have gratitude.
So today with the holiday approaching I was not only remembering my friend who I miss dearly but remembering her words because with all the shopping and preparing for the holiday I believe it is easy to loose sight of what the holiday is really about.
Before my friend past she wrote words in a journal, I took her words and created a booklet that was handed out at her wake and today I opened it and there in front of me as if she was talking to me again was something she wrote and I quote -
"God is my master, I listen for his will and I patiently await that is my prayer of grace. Thanks deserving, given in love and absolution and thanksgiving."
" IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS."
So I ask you all to share in this thought with me as I thank god for all my friends and family who have blessed my life, I thank you God and I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving-
In memory of my beautiful friend Angela
I wish you all the blessings of the holiday
Diane