Giving Thanks

In my creative writing class, professor Susan Hecht suggested 8 questions for our zoom class to ponder in our breakout rooms to discuss. I would like to share them with our circle regardless of a specific day designated to give thanks. I was with two most interesting gentlemen and learned so much by responding to these questions and got to k each other. Here they are the way I heard them. I do not have the exact wording.

1-What are three things that I really need?
2-What is one everyday activity that makes me feel good?

3-What is the one strength I have to help me get through difficulties?

4-What do I look forward to when I think about coming home?

5- Who has reached out to me this week and who has gifted me an act of kindness?

6-What is the thing I can do for someone in the next few days?

7-What is the one thing I have learned about myself or someone else this week?

8-Who made me smile last? How did they do it? How I made someone smile?

I found the questions inspiring as I responded to them and plan to offer them to the family on Thanksgiving- day. I think they are great for any group gathering with family, friends and those new to your life.

Here are a few questions form me:

1-Who are the people you remember with deep gratitude without thinking?

2-Who are the people who lifted your spirit where your wings were tired?

3-Who mentored you in life personally, professionally and spiritually?

4-Who took the time to listen to you when you were in pain?

5-Who do you think of with deep love?

6-Who were the people who believed in you when you had difficulty believing in yourself?

7-Who made you feel loved, safe and trusted?

8-Who do you want to hug with all your heart on Thanksgiving?

An invitation to include all beings in the universe in our heart who are facing war, cruelty, famine, and striped from all human rights.

“There are more people who die from lack of love than lack of bread.”
Mother Teresa

Falls Angel by Andrew H

Merely whispering a suggestion, that the day has now begun,
In it’s purple mountain hammock lay first sleepy sun.

Dotted paint brush tips of yellow,
And thick broad strokes of red
The wind steals kisses and says hello
as half closed eyes look wearily ahead.

illuminated flora, the last shine before winters clasp,
The leaves whisper one to another, and escape with each spangled windy blast.

The freshed cracked air steal the leaves away, and with each gust of  leafy freedom, brings one more shorter day.   

And the trees become brown and barren
And the ground cold and damp
That red and yellow sirren
Now fading down winter ramp

And the fox has settled down, and the weasles are all white,
The temperature is dropping,
And it is in winter right.

And a greatly mixed emotion
By each season alone,
What are all those colors worth
If you’re cold and lonely
with no where to call home?

But the arms of an angel extended
Within her warm embrace
Gives the power to keep walking, however slow the pace.

Through viscous snow and coldness
A landscape black and white
Braving winters boldness
And conquering snowy night

And the sun has set now long ago
The clouds give way to yellow moon
I’d be lost and lonely
But in my Angel, I’ve finally found my home.
                 By
Andrew H.

HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP BIRTHDAY ANDREW

Thank you for sharing your heartfelt poem with our circle of love.

The Flight Engineer

I met Kay at work, one of the most loving nurses in my whole career. She was like a Sun radiating with her smile, taking care of our clients in her gentle ways. She was loved and respected by all who had the honor of knowing her. She has been married to Woody for many years.

I have not met Woody in person, yet it feels like knowing him as he has the same loving, kind eyes as Kay does. Woody was a flight engineer for over 27 years. According to their daughter “My dad had a pretty healthy active life. I’m amazed that he is doing so well and independent at 87. He had open heart surgery at the age of 70 and has been in excellent health since then.”

Woody was diagnosed with stomach cancer a few months ago. Kay was wondering if all the preservatives in pepperoni may have contributed to his diagnosis, otherwise a healthy man. He has gone through rounds of chemo that shrunk the tumor to %50. Woody declined a long operation and 10 days in ICU. In the last biopsy, no cancer cells were detected. Thanks to medical science and all the positive energy from our circle from all over the world and their church community.

The next step is 28 rounds of radiation to ensure that the cancer is completely eliminated and will not come back. His treatment was to start on 11/21/22 and was delayed for a few days. It gives him a chance to enjoy Thanksgiving with the family and put on some weight.

Knowing Kay and her faith, in my heart, I feel anything is possible. I have been amazed to see her to ‘surrender’ wholeheartedly and Trust the Source. It is a gift and blessing. When the heart and soul are open to healing, spontaneous healing becomes a possibility that science is attempting to understand.

Kay asked for prayers for Woody’s complete recovery and peace of mind since this process has been emotionally taxing on woody and the family as one can imagine. Kay lifted my spirit in one of the most challenging times in my life. Her love is always in my heart.

Invitation from our community to send Woody healing energy for his body to be cancer free. I will imagine a White Light around him as he goes through this round of radiation. Their daughter wanted me to know that the radiology technician, an Iranian woman who had been at work from 5am to 8 pm serving her father, was most loving, caring and professional. I’d like to thank her for her humanity, compassion and touching the heart of the patient and the family.

Note: a post about Kay & Woody on 8/22/2022