Thanksgiving!

[Spying]

Hi Everyone,
Blessings to you through the resurrected Messiah Yahushua, the Restored and Renewed YAHWEH ELOHIM!

The Sunday after Thankgiving Day I was blessed to have the company of my former Sister-In-Law, Evelyn, and her son, Sam, for an afternoon dinner of roasted prime rib, baked potatoes, green bean casserole, and New York Cheesecake for dessert. We also shared a bottle of Rose wine together. I make mention of the wine because it was a very good medium priced pink wine made by Bonny Doon Vineyards 2019. I myself prefer red blends, and my favorite wine for a long time has been Penfolds Din 389. Indeed, I just purchased a 2018 vintage of that wine with the expectation that I will save it for Passover.

It is written that wine gladdens the heart, and I consider it an honor to share with you this vintage of a poem that Evelyn shared with me on that Sunday day after Thanksgiving:

The Gratitude Poem

Although we know we SHOULD be more grateful
Sometimes it’s just hard to be
When things don’t go the way we want
We begin to think, “Oh, Poor Me!”

But if we look ALL around us
Everywhere, we will clearly see
There’s so much for which to be thankful
Yes, it’s true, for you and for me!

There are so many basic blessings
We take for granted and just don’t see
We fail to acknowledge or appreciate them
When so very thankful we COULD be

So how do we cultivate more gratitude?
We simply make it a habit, of course!
Like brushing our teeth each morning
We do it daily, without any force

We can write in our gratitude journal
We can say “Thank You” to our family and friends
We can list our countless blessings
That have absolutely no end

To live a life of gratitude
Is easier than we think
And when we do
From life’s bountiful cup we drink

Everything seems rosier to us
Happy smiles adorn our face
When we are truly thankful
Life’s great goodness we taste

Gratitude makes us happier
It increases our joy and our love
Gratitude magically changes everything!
Like heavenly manna from above

When we express our sincere thanks
We spread joy to all we meet
We look with brand new eyes
We see life as a delightful treat


A moment taken to show appreciation
Can leave someone all aglow
Which can last several hours, even days
When the seeds of gratitude are sown

If the ONLY prayer you EVER uttered was “Thank You”
That would be perfectly okay
Showing gratitude is so very powerful
A great way to start and end your day

Each day has 86,400 seconds in it
So my question is: How will you spend yours?
Walking happily through life with a thankful heart
Which can open many exciting new doors?

I hope you’ll decide to become more thankful
In everything you think, say and do
Just watch how your life changes
For many others and for you!

Happy Thanksgiving to each one of you
I’m very thankful you are here
You are a true blessing to others
Please know that God and I hold you dear

What a wonderful expression of Thanksgiving. This poem was written by Evelyn Whitson Brown on November 16, 2013, and I consider it a distinct honor to be allowed to publish this poem here at Lo Ammi.

Should you yourself be moved to poetically respond either positively or negatively, then make yourself heard. Thankfully, I am,
Sincerely, Spying

[Spying]

Topic: Thorns!

Hi Everyone,
Blessings to you through the resurrected Messiah Yahushua, the Renew and Restored YAHWEH ELOHIM.

Poetry is often written about particular people and particular experiences with them. As I have written above, I was impressed by the Rose Wine from Bonny Doon Vineyards. I also was curious about the name "Bonny Doon" so I engaged in a little research. I discovered that Bonnie in Scottish means "beautiful" and Doon means "river". Here is a little poem by Robert Burns that carries great meaning for me:

The Banks O' Doon (3rd Version)

Ye banks and braes o' bonie Doon,
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And I sae weary fu' o' care!
Thou'll break my heart, thou warbling bird,
That wantons thro' the flowering thorn:
Thou minds me o' departed joys,
Departed never to return.

Aft hae I rov'd by Bonie Doon,
To see the rose and woodbine twine:
And ilka bird sang o' its Luve,
And fondly sae did I o' mine;
Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,
Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree!
And may fause Luver staw my rose,
But ah! he left the thorn wi' me.

Because of the last line of the poem, it does seem to me that Robert Burns is writing about a gay lover. When I contemplate the last line and when I apply the poem to myself, I change the "he" to "she".

Of course, the thorns that arise from our cultivated ground along the river of our lives are actually indicative of sins that are imbedded in our flesh. We learn from them, and, therefore, I am grateful for the lessons they give to us, I am,
Sincerely, Spying