Giving Thanks
No moralizing, activist message today, No corporate beating, politician pounding rant. If your'e lucky you'll soon be with friends and family for a still uncommercialized holiday, Thanksgiving. While some of you may be working the double overtime shift on newsdesks or running emergency rooms or pumping gas for those of us going to see Grandma, the Native American message below is simply lovely and can work across great diversity: or so I hope as I plan to use it around a Thanksgiving dinner table to include Jews, Christians, atheists, Taoists and assorted undeclaredes. I hope you enjoy it. John
"Giving Thanks" is a Native American good morning message but reads as a prayer. The book is by Chief Jake Swamp, illustrated by Erwin Printup, Jr.
To be a human being is an honor, and we offer thanksgiving for all the gifts of life.
Mother Earth, we thank you for giving us everything we need.
Thank you, deep blue waters around Mother Earth, for you are the force that takes thirst away from all living things.
We give thanks to green grasses that feel so good against our bare feet, for the cool beauty you bring to Mother Earth's floor.
Thank you, good foods from Mother Earth, our life sustainers, for making us happy when we are hungry.
Fruits and berries, we thank you for your color and sweetness. We are all thankful to good medicine herbs, for healing us when we are sick.
Thank you, all the animals in the world, for keeping our precious forests clean. All the trees in the world, we are thankful for the shade and warmth you give us. Thank you, all the birds in the world, for singing your beautiful songs for all to enjoy.
We give thanks to you, gentle Four Winds, for bringing clean air for us to breathe from the four directions.
Thank you, Grandfather Thunder Beings, for bringing rains to help all living things grow.
Elder Brother Sun, we send thanks for shining your light and warming Mother Earth.
Thank you, Grandmother Moon, for growing full every month to light the darkness for children and sparkling waters.
We give thanks, twinkling stars, for making the night sky so beautiful and for sprinkling morning dew drops on the plants.
Spirit Protectors of our past and present, we thank you for showing us ways to live in peace and harmony with one another.
And most of all, thank you, Great Spirit, for giving us all these wonderful gifts, so we will be happy and healthy every day and every night.
Sign up
The planet needs you, and so do we. Join our mailing list to get the latest Greenpeace news, online action alerts, and more delivered to your inbox.
Activist blog
Join the conversation on the Greenpeace Activist blog! Start your own blog and connect with other bloggers. Network with fellow activists, share your stories, discuss latest news and trends and trade tips on organizing and living green. The Greenpeace Activist blog is your place to help build and engage with the environmental movement.
Support us
Syndicate
Archives
December 2008 (1)
November 2008 (1)
May 2008 (1)
January 2008 (1)
October 2007 (1)
September 2007 (1)
July 2007 (1)
April 2007 (1)
February 2007 (1)
January 2007 (2)
November 2006 (2)
October 2006 (2)
- more...
Search
Categories
Blogroll
Blogs and news
350
Alternet
Bright Green Blog
Celsias
Climate Progress
DeSmogBlog
Dateline Earth
Dot Earth
EcoGeek
Environmental Capital
Green For All Blog
Green Inc.
Greenspace
Grist Magazine
The Huffington Post
It's getting hot in here
Mother Jones
NRDC blogs
Outside Blog
Skeptical Science
The Skywriter
Sustainablog
The Thin Green Line
Treehugger
Understory
Unsilent Generation
Utne Reader
Warming Law
Wonk Room
Yahoo! Green
Organizations
1Sky
350
Apollo Alliance
Boreal Songbird Initiative
Environmental Investigation Agency
ForestEthics
Green for All
Markets Initiative
Natural Resources Defense Council
NukeFree.org
Rainforest Action Network
Sierra Club
Sustainable South Bronx
True Majority
We Can Solve It




You must have a Greenpeace or Facebook account and be logged in to post comments.Connect with Facebook
Please log in or create an account to share your comments
or connect with facebook: