GOD-ly Talk: Thanksgiving and the Reason for the Season

Just so you know, I'm not a preacher or minister of any kind. I'm not educated on the bible, and I'm not the most reverent person on the planet. I'm a sinner and I constantly struggle to be a better person. In short, I'm no expert. But I believe that we all have the key to our salvation within us. We have all the answers we need to go to heaven.


Not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving, and some celebrate it on different days. I even know some people who feel that it commemorates a bad thing. Fair enough, if you are an American Indian, and view the arrival of Europeans as a bad thing. But the simple concept of setting aside a day to give thanks for the blessings that we have is always a good thing.

For myself, I have seen far more difficult times, so I have perspective. I understand that while my situation, the small home and savings that my family depends upon is not ideal, it is sufficient. We pay our rent and bills, are able to feed ourselves, save a very small amount, and have a bit of fun. I got my job during a hiring freeze, and we have managed to find a bit to donate to a very few worthy charities. So while we could be more comfortable, we are happy to have a home and family and the ability to look after ourselves. For that we are very thankful. I personally have been without all that and dependent upon others for food and shelter. As I said, I have perspective.

As always happens this time of year, we are being bombarded with ads on television for the Christmas shopping season, and while I understand the economic need for businesses to try to make as much money as they can, the same people who were forced to accept a charity Thanksgiving meal will also know that this media blitz and dream of the latest gadget is not for them. Unfortunately, success in the western world is now equated with the gadgets you can buy and the price tags under the Christmas tree. So the unfortunate in our society will be left out, and will have a very difficult and most likely depressing holiday season. But presents and commercialism are not the reasons for the season. Celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is. And that's free.

So if you are depressed because you can't afford the latest smartphone or if your family won't be playing the Wii on Christmas morning, remember first that you were given an amazing gift. The creator of the universe gave his only begotten son so that you could be forgiven for your sins. This gift was given to you, personally. Enjoy the knowledge of salvation and everlasting life and forgiveness for your sins that God gave to you personally. I do. Sure, I'm looking forward to a book and maybe just maybe a small second-hand gadget. But the real gift was given to me and my family long, long ago, before any of us were born. And I'm pretty happy about that.

GOD-ly Talk: ABOUT PRAYER & PRAYING

As a short introduction to this new column, we would like to say that it came about because of a lady we came across recently who let out some of what we felt, was a string of unpalatable words about Allah. My husband and I had gone to our residence’s swimming pool and we were chattering away as we swam around and she must have picked up on what we were saying, although our words were not loud. She passed by us and said ‘do you realize that Allah is not a God and he is the devil’ etc etc and carried on in an unpleasant tone. I turned to her and said, ‘Madam, you are entitled to your opinion but please excuse me’ and we swam away. The lady was, of course, entitled to her opinion. So in our chat about this incident later, we thought that a column based on all aspects of all religions and the history of religion and religious places could be an interesting write and read.


ABOUT PRAYER AND PRAYING

Do you ever talk to the big-G, in other words, the man upstairs as I’ve heard Christian folk call him? I find it infinitely comforting. Sometimes I fall asleep before saying my prayers and a long time ago my late mum was walking past my room one evening and she came in and said ‘who are you talking to’? I replied ‘God’ and she in turn said ‘you were a bit short on the job’. I said ‘yes, I know but I am so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open.’ What I had said was – thank you for this day, goodnight – she never forgot this and neither have I. I had just wanted to say something before dreamland overtook me and I was preserving my conscience at the time. My husband, bless him, often says his prayers on his way to work and has lengthy conversations with God about various subjects. He found the big-G a while ago and has a very comfortable relationship with the ‘man upstairs’. God is like this dude, this great friend who has been around in my life for (beyond) ever. If I say a bad word (not nasty ones but strong enough for me to feel guilty about) I apologise to the big-G by usually saying sorry God or Lord. When I hear that someone I know of be it a personality or acquaintance has left this earth and gone to infinity, then I ask God to bless them and send them on their way in a calm manner to their next life. It has always been a habit of mine that if, in the course of conversation, the name of a person who has passed on is mentioned, then after the mention of this person’s name I say God rest their soul and carry on with the conversation. There are a myriad of religions around the world that each has their own way of saying prayers and chants and have rituals surrounding those prayers. These are wonderful to learn about and observe. To pray, in your own style, is so comfortable, it’s a real boost to the inner mind and calming to. It’s positive and gives you energy to carry on with your next task. I have closed this column with a prayer I learnt many years ago when I was living in Australia and in the course of reading a magazine, came across it. For whatever reason at the time it appealed to me (it still does). Take care out there and God bless you.

In a very special way
I shall need thee Lord always
I know how full thy days will be
But everything depends on thee
But keep an eye on me I pray
Though far from thee my thoughts may stray
Whatever happens be thou there
Keep me in thy loving care
Lord I know that there is room
For everything and everyone

Pardon all that I have done

That was grievous in thy sight

Trusting in thy charity

Always Dear Lord, remember (my family,

my friends, my pets and) me.

Here is a wonderful picture of the inner roof of the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul. These wonderfully decorative ceilings were built so long ago and remain in splendid condition to this day. They are a tribute to the crafts people who built them.

Introducing "GOD-ly Talk"

Hello there from HOUSE ABUKOFF Features Division. We would like to announce a new column that will take off next weekend (June 20). It is called GOD-ly Talk. It will have religion as its base and will take an open and unbiased look at all aspects of religion. For example, history, quotes, pictures, current trends. The column’s lead writer is Kate and other writers will also be contributing to the column. We welcome suggestions and ask that language and messages are civil. The column will go on to our site on a Saturday evening (PDT) (Pacific Daylight Time) as we are based in western USA. For your information, we will be setting up a special Twitter for this particular column, in the next few days and will let you know the name et al, when it is done.

Here is a beautiful example of a stained glass picture we thought you might be interested in. It comes from a company in the United States called Architectural Stained Glass. They clearly do some wonderful work. We leave you with this thought ‘if you do your best, whatever happens will be for the best’.