Conference turris::womannotes-v3

545.0. "Thanksgiving is about ..." by ASDS::BARLOW (Me for MA governor!!!) Mon Nov 19 1990 19:09

	I just wanted to share this with you all.
	I attended church on Sunday and heard a wonderful sermon.
	Wether or not you believe in God, I think everybody can
	benefit from the meaning of these stories. 

	A disciple walked up to a man on the street and asked him
	what he would give to God.  He replied, "why would I give
	anything to God?  What has he/she done for me?"  The
	disciple then turned to a lame man lying in the street and
	asked, "if God made you able to walk, what would you do 
	for God?"  The lame man replied that he would be God's
	servant for the rest of his life, if only he could walk!

	A doctor had operated on a young woman and had removed a tumor
	from her cheek.  Unfortunately in doing so, he'd had to cut 
	a nerve in her face and the corner of her mouth was turned
	up.  The doctor was at her bedside when her husband came in.
	Her husband just sat at the edge of the bed touching her
	face.  She turned and asked the doctor if her face would
	always be like this.  The doctor explained that it would.
	Her husband then said that he thought it was sort-of cute.
	That she'd always be at least partly, smiling!  Then he
	bent and kissed her on the lips, bending his lips to accommodate
	hers.  He was proving that their kiss still worked.

	After the minister had finished this last story, at least 2
	women in my area were crying.  (He told the story better
	than I did.)  I guess the point is that we really have no
	idea what we have.  The able man didn't realize that he
	was lucky to be able to walk.  The husband was proving that
	he and his wife still had their love.  When we compare
	our incomes to those even in our own ghettos, we're lucky!
	And even if politics seem bass-ackwards, at least we can
	vote and disagree.  People in China are shot for disagreeing!
	
	Maybe this is a bit sappy, but I felt very lucky as I walked
	out of church.  I felt ashamed too, though.  Because it's
	only once or twice a year that I realize what I truly have.

	Rachael
    

    
    
    I'm curious...did the minister REALLY say what has "he/she" done for
    me (referring to god), or did you change it just for this file?
    
    
    bonnie

    
    I changed it for me.  I don't like saying "God/he", that really
    bugs me.  So most of the time, unless it gets exhaustive, I say
    God/he/she, just like I say engineer/he/she. 
    
    Rachael
    

    Thanksgiving is for giving thanks to God for all that we have, from the
    heart not the mouth. His love is everlasting...
    
    Have a good Thanksgiving everyone.
    
    Bill