Hello, Friends!
A dear person in another listserv I subscribe to sent this out, and I thought it would apply here, too, so here it is, and to everyone, have a wonderful, peaceful, fun Thanksgiving Day <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

THANKS, FORGIVING DAY
by Bob Perks

"It's happening already!" he said to me.
"What?"
"The last I looked it was July 4th and now suddenly it's the holiday
season," he said smiling.
"I'm not ready for this at all," I told him.
"Oh, it may have come too fast, but I'm always ready for my 'Thanks
Forgiving Day!'"
"You mean Thanksgiving Day?"
"Oh, that too!"
"I'm confused!" I said.
"Well, Thanksgiving Day isn't celebrated on the same day around the
world. I'm not even sure if some countries have such a day. So I
celebrate Thanksgiving Day with my family and friends in America. However,
the day before Thanksgiving, I celebrate 'Thanks, Forgiving Day' with all
my international friends as well as those here at home."
"Do you travel that much?"
"Oh, no. I've never had that luxury. I met all of these wonderful
people on the Internet."
"I call them 'friends I've never met'," I said proudly. "I too, have
many from around the world."
"Well then you must celebrate it, too."
"Tell me about it."
"Well, on Thanksgiving Day I give thanks for all the blessings in my
life. Good health, love, friendship, work, the food I eat and everything I
value."
He paused for a moment, took a deep breath and sighed with great
satisfaction that his life is so blessed.
"But on 'Thanks Forgiving Day', the Wednesday before, I make an effort
to ask for forgiveness for any wrongs I have done. Even the smallest
things that may have gone unchecked over the past year. You know, those
little things that may have hurt someone's feelings and I didn't realize
it. But also the big things which may have caused a hurt or lost
friendship. I simply ask everyone to forgive me and thank them for opening
their hearts to me again."
I stood there listening to this wonderful man. He was one of those
people whom you immediately trusted. His voice, his demeanor, were warm
and welcoming.
It was a wonderful thought. A gesture that gives hope to the world.
To think that in some small way we could undermine all of the hate and
anger in the world by humbly asking to be forgiven even when we have done
nothing wrong. The act itself is a reflection of the greatest love God has
for us.
"So will you join me?" he asked.
"I just did!"

To you, my friend, reading this message: When I awaken each morning
my heart sings a grateful tune to God for giving me still another chance to
make a difference in this world.
On this -- my Thanks, Forgiving Day -- I humbly ask for your
forgiveness if I have slighted you in any way during the past year. I
treasure your presence in my life and if you would forgive me, I would be
forever grateful. Thanks!
I invite you to join us on Wednesday, November 26th as we celebrate,
Thanks, Forgiving Day!

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Pat Rainey on Nov 14, 2003 ---</FONT></center>