Today in our multi-generational Thanksgiving service we are reminded of the importance of sharing, not only at Thanksgiving but all the year through. We will hold a Bread Communion to remember the earliest rituals of Giving Thanks in colonial American history. Bring in your favorite bread for the communion table, which will be shared by … Continue reading Remembering the Meaning of Thanksgiving
I will share some personal thoughts on how Native people feel about expressing gratitude, not necessarily in terms of the Thanksgiving holiday but in a deeper private way — one that is part of daily life, part of seasonal change, part of being in ceremony in harmony with the natural world. As part of my … Continue reading What Mvto/Ahéheeʼ/Pilamaya Mean to Me
I love the poem that begins, “When someone deeply listens to you, it is like holding out a dented cup you have had since childhood and watching it fill up with cold fresh water.” Deep listening is rewarding not only for the speaker but also for the listener. Deep, active listening creates gratitude in a … Continue reading Gratitude in Deeply Listening
The state of gratitude results from demonstrating compassion for one another: being connected to others, we respond with gratitude for this process of being alive and being connected with other humans. Being grateful is a process of showing ourselves — letting ourselves be known to others — as we realize the meaning of relationships. To … Continue reading Gratitude: The Easiest Way to be Happy
