As we approach the holiday season, please remember the thousands who have lost members of their families, their homes and possessions, their entire communities, to fires still raging in California.
Say a prayer in the language of your heart, write a check to assist the many who have lost everything, and express gratitude to the exhausted first responders still on the frontlines trying to quell the flames and assist those who have been stricken.
To be truly thankful is not only to account for your own blessings but to realize that so many are injured, harrowed, and grieving, and then to share your bounty.
If your celebration this year finds you dining at a table of cinders, sobbing at an open gravesite, bereft of all but the charity of strangers, please know I wish you a future.
Just a thought 57
Sorrow by Vincent Van Gogh, courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Sharon Bonin-Pratt's Ink Flare 
Comments on: "Praying Thankful" (42)
Beautiful post. It is difficult to celebrate the holidays when so many have suffered terrible loss. May you and your beautiful heart always be blessed.
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Thanks, Andrew. You and yours as well.
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Thanks
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Amen.
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A perfect ending. Thanks, Jacqui.
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Ditto, Jacqui.
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❤
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Sharon, you have represented sadness and despair so well with Van Gogh’s drawing.
Set against the rich celebrations of many the contrasts are sharp.
I feel this specifically every winter when so many suffer hardship. Also in trauma like your
terrible fires in California or war torn countries around the world.
Bless
Miriam
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There is so much hardship in the world, as you say, Miriam. Those of us more fortunate should never take our ease for granted, and sharing some of our bounty is a good thing to do. Thank you for reading, Miriam.
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Well said. The holidays make us feel any loss more sharply. I plan to follow your advice.
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
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Thank you, Jenna. Even small amounts add up and help those in need. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
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Our blessed rain is clearing the air and tamping the fires. A blessing and a curse for those displaced living in tents. Someone from our church gathered linens and camp gear to take to the area, linens for all the poor homeless and injured pets, and camp gear for those who must camp to survive. My closet is emptier and my heart is a little happier. The outpouring of concern and help has been amazing. Most folks are thankful to be alive.
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I think most of us gave what we could: small checks, water bottles and sandwiches, personal services, clothing, pet food. All those small donations add up and bring blessings on everyone.
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Beautiful post. Praying for all those suffering through this terrible ordeal in California! We give thanks for a God who is always with us in every time and place.
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Thank you for reading, Linda.
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My thoughts are with those that have lost and are suffering. A beautiful post Sharri expressing so well sentiments I share.
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Thank you, Irene. There is still so much uncertainty in all the communities that burned. So much devastation and death for all these people to bear – it’s pretty heartbreaking.
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We have been hearing about it here and I can imagine how difficult it is for those that have been affected.
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I agree, Irene. It’s so hard to start over when you have everything and simply must move things to a new house, but when you’ve lost every single thing – I can’t imagine how hard this must be. Many of the folks in Paradise were retired and elderly. Must be unbearably tough for everyone.
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My heart is breaking for the folks of California.
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Mine too, Peggy. So much sadness and horror for those displaced and for the families and friends of those killed or still missing.
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Thank you for this one, Sharon. It’s easy to forget, that just because the fires (and aftermath) are no longer in the headlines, it doesn’t mean the suffering is over. I can’t even imagine the horror of going through the fires and losing everything. Blessings to you for your kindness and caring. 💗
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Many people care and many of us do a bit to help out. Friends who live closer are providing shelter; like thousands who live farther, I gave money. I wish I could do more. Thanks for your kindness, Betty. I believe that good thoughts also help.
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Amen indeed.
And that drawing by Van Gogh really says it all, doesn’t it?
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Van Gogh was so tuned in to the deepest part of his soul and therefore touched the deepest parts of others. It’s why so many people respond to his art by placing their hands over their hearts, a likely unconscious act I witnessed over and over at a huge Van Gogh exhibit many years ago.
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That´s a wonderful thing you´ve observed here, Shari, I´m going to put more attention to the other visitors next time I´m on a Van Gogh exhibit! usually I´m just transfixed by the art but that´s something I´d really like to see.
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You’ll find it an interesting experience. Actually, watching the audience for any event is quite fun and enlightening. People react naturally, sometimes you see expressions you don’t expect.
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Will definitely do this next time I go to a museum or gallery then, it´s been too long anyway, I feel quite depleted in that department. 😉
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I missed this one, only seeing it now – great as always post, Sharon. I wonder if the wonderful drawing is of one of his wives crying about another of his infidelities? Also, when I mentioned something about holidays & I think suicide, a psychologist recently informed me that suicides happens most late spring/early summer. Theory is that holidays include activities, whereas the in-between periods are hardest – sad either way, but interesting, no?
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Van Gogh never married though he was famously in love several times and engaged at least once. I think his own mental fragility allowed him to grasp deep, sad emotions. He really conveys sorrow in every line of this eloquent drawing. It’s powerful because there are so few strokes, just enough to convey this woman’s grief.
As for philandering husbands, you may be thinking of Picasso who loved his women to fight over him. He liked the tempestuous battles they waged in public. Another brilliant artist but a nasty piece of work in so many ways. I’d prefer to meet Van Gogh were I given the chance though I’d wouldn’t mind watching Picasso work.
Glad you found this post, Daal. I often blog binge, reading several recent posts from one writer rather than racing from blog to blog every day. Unfortunately, I also miss some posts because of this erratic following strategy.
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You read my mind (despite what I wrote lol) on all counts. For some reason indeed I’d confused him with Mr. P. Also, I agree with you about both artists. As for blog reading, I always wish I had more hours in my days.
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I wish I could read faster – I have so many books to read and am the slowest kid on the block.
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I often feel the same way myself — good writing deserves a thorough read, though…
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As writers we can provide stories worth reading but we can’t force people to read. As a writer who also reads, I try to read well – my paying it forward. You and I often share a similar take on the world – nice to have that partner.
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❤ most recent writing that made me swoon with almost every word is The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson. Sorry if perhaps I already mentioned it. Have you read it?
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I haven’t even heard of the book, will have to look it up. My TBR list is pages long, just titles and brief descriptions. Sadly, I read slowly.
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This one is short stories – another short story collection I recently enjoyed is A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin
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I’m currently reading A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson. It has me enthralled, but it’s very difficult to place the characters at first, so I’ve read the first 60 pages twice in order to get oriented. The book is 460 pages and I suspect 160,000 words, so it’s going to take me a while to complete. This book is a sequel to Life After Life, so I’ll probably read that one next. And then I might find a book of short stories to give myself a breather. Of course, I’m always reading poetry.
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so many great books, so little time lol I’m always amazed that folks reread books – I’d like to, but my to be read list is never ending
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I agree 100%, so many books I want to read. Plus another 6 or 7 I want to write.
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that too!
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Yes, that too, I know you’re also avidly writing.
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