Thanksgiving Graces

Enjoy the tale of a Thanksgiving feast that grows and grows with this paperback edition of a holiday favorite. A young boy looks on as his mom and grandma are busy getting dinner ready. Soon Dad arrives with a family friend, followed by a sibling with a college roommate, an aunt and cousin, and a friend with relatives in tow. As the child worries whether there will be enough for all, Grandma reminds him that the more we show our love and care, the more there always seems to be to share. With its heartwarming text and rich, warm illustrations, this story will remind readers young and old of the spirit of Thanksgiving.

Introduces Thanksgiving, describing how the holiday originated, similar festivals around the world, what people eat during the meal, the activities they do, and why it is important for families.

Since early colonial days, North American communities have stopped for days of prayer and thanksgiving. Grateful for mercies received and sobered by harrowing conflicts, people have paused for a day to reflect upon life’s bounties and tragedies. In its current incarnation, however, it is sometimes a shallow splurge of food and football. Only vestiges of this initial community tradition of thoughtful reflection can sometimes be found. This collection reflects an effort to revive the tradition of thoughtful reflection and contemplation of our role and responsibilities in today’s troubling and often violent world. Written year by year over the decades, each “grace” speaks to a moment in our nation’s passage through many elections, crises, disasters, and even triumphs. High moral purpose is balanced by a spirit of playfulness and an appreciation of the myriad beauties of our planet and universe. These graces have been shared at tables around the world for over three decades. Enjoy them and catch glimpses of our collective life as we moved from the twentieth to the twenty-first centuries.

Saying grace at mealtime is a time-honored tradition for many families and a newfound source of spiritual connection for others. Whether you're a master at giving the blessing or fairly new to this sacred art, Graces will bring inspiration to your meals and special gatherings. Seeing the need for such inspiration at her family's table, June Cotner compiled a notebook of poems, prayers, and songs that she solicited from friends, strangers, family members, and ministers. She has turned her family's well-worn notebook into this elegantly packaged edition, which will complement your finest table settings. Arranged by thirteen themes, this beautiful gift book contains poems, prayers, songs, invocations, and salutations by figures as diverse as Leunig and Browning, Emerson and Starhawk, Kahlil Gibran and Schweitzer. Whether you need a Sanskirt Salutation to the Dawn, a Gaelic Blessings, or ancient Chinese Prayer, Graces offers fitting words for every occasion. Having a collection of original, traditional, and multicultural blessings makes it easy to share wisdom and insight with family and friends before meals or at special gatherings. The graces compiled here have been used by people of all religions beliefs, and special attention was given to how easily the words can be spoken by both adults and children. Life if full of occasions when it seems appropriate to say grace. Graces contains 133 prayers, poems, and blessings that span the centuries and draw from many traditions. Bring spiritual focus to your meals by bringing Graces to your table.

Contents Thanksgiving Time Thanks to Thanksgiving Red Man's Revenge Thanksgiving Grace Black Friday Thanksgiving: The Bird's-Eye View Thanksgiving Toast Thanksgiving on the Square Thanksgiving at the Airport I'll Start a Diet Tomorrow Burn Down the House Thanksgiving at the