"Dear Lord,

We thank thee for food and remember those who are hungry.
We thank thee for shelter, and remember those who are homeless.
We thank thee for health, and remember those who are ill.
We thank thee for freedom, and remember those who are enslaved.
We thank thee for friends and family, and remember those who are alone.
May these remembrances stir us to service, so that thy gifts to us may benefit others.  Amen."

So goes our traditional Thanksgiving prayer.  My eldest daughter Ari memorized it at a young age and took great pride reciting it each year, that is....up until she turned thirteen.
     "Ari, would you like to lead the family in prayer?" I asked as usual once we were all seated around the candle lit table.  "No" she replied flatly.  Did I listen?  No.  I naively decided she was merely suffering a case of teen angst due to some new guests in attendance and prompted her further.  "Go ahead honey, you always say it so beautifully."  I might as well have ignited dynamite.  
     "I said no Mother" my normally well mannered daughter screamed as she jumped from the table and bolted up the stairs sobbing.  "Why can't you just listen to me the first time?" 
     Shock is a pretty good word to describe the state of everyone at the table for the rest of the dinner.  Fortunately our guests, who happen to be childless, seemed to possess a new sense of satisfaction with their decision not to procreate.   

Mama Marlaine www.lifeskillsreportcard.com
 


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