Gratitude, Grace, Gobbling, and Strawberry Jello Salad

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

  

We can always make room for gratitude in our hearts!  We certainly find room for turkey in our tummies, eating lightly throughout the early part of the day in order to gobble up all the yummy foods from our Thanksgiving tables.

How can we help our kids maintain an "attitude of gratitude" throughout the year, and not just at Thanksgiving?  I think the best way is by remembering to constantly thank God for all we have. 

An easy way is to "say grace" every day at our tables before we eat our meals.

Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise by Tomie dePaola

"Grace" comes from the Greek word kharis.  And that leads me to another important meal of thanksgiving... many Christian families participate in the Eucharistic meal of Holy Communion. 

"Eucharist", in Greek eukharistia, literally means ‘thanksgiving’; it comes from the Greek word eukharistos ‘grateful’ - eu ‘well’ and kharizesthai ‘offer graciously’ (from kharis ‘grace’).

H is for Holy by Nika Boyd

B is for bread.  Jesus called Himself the "Bread of Life".  The Bread of Holy Communion is Christ's Body.  Jesus died and rose from the dead; His Resurrection gives us eternal life.

The Eucharist teaches us and helps us to have an unceasing remembrance of God.

Today as I prepared my contribution for our extended Braun family Thanksgiving meal, I remembered especially our Matriarch who passed away this summer.

We all love Grandma's Strawberry Sour Cream Jello Salad!  

Since my kitchen is being demo'd next week, most of my baking things, pots and pans and dishes have been packed up. So it was especially poignant that one of the last things I made in my pared down kitchen was her family recipe.  We miss her so!

Meals are important vehicles of love and grace!  May we all remember to give to those in need out of our abundance, and remember to give thanks to God not only for food, but for all things during this holi-(y)-day season.

Iconography in a beautiful Russian children's book...

"Here before you, my young friends, is a curious book. It was written for children but grown-ups may also find it interesting. It wasn't meant as entertainment but it will captivate you nonetheless, and even though our narrative is serious, it contains many wonderful pictures. This isn't a book of fairy tales, legends or fables, but it will show you the way to a country that has no equal in any country on earth, for it was created by the All-Wise God in His own image and likeness. It's a wonderful place, not far from each of you, and it's called . . . your own soul."

The Path to Confession by Fr. Artemy Vladimirov, pastor of All Saints Church in Moscow, is full of gorgeous watercolor illustrations, done by by G.A. Skotina in a traditional  iconographic style...

The term "icon" is derived from the Greek word "eikon" meaning "likeness" or image. In the Eastern European Christian tradition, the subjects of icons can be portraits of Christ, his Mother, or saints, but they may also be narratives about sacred events, or even depictions of liturgical hymns.  Icons are also referred to as "Windows to Heaven".

Tens of thousands of copies of The Path to Confession have been sold in the original Russian version, and now English-speakers can benefit from Fr. Artemy's gentle, yet sober introduction to confession. This book is a feast to the eyes as well as the soul.

Chapter III addresses "The Battle Against Sin": Disbelief; Pride and disobedience; Laziness and despondency; Envy, greed, lying and stealing; Intemperance in eating and drinking; Unchastity and cursing; Those who have bad manners; and Anger, irritability and fighting...

Fr. Artemy's serious, yet loving counsel about the preparation for the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion may in some parts of the text seem strict to our American ears and culture, so I would recommend that parents read it before deciding which parts to share with their children (age and maturity of the child, as well as parenting styles will also be determining factors in how parents will want to present the material).

How much do you know about Russian icons?  Click here for a brief history and some excellent links and resources.

Adults and teens may also enjoy this book, The Underground Struggle to Save Russian Iconography: HIDDEN AND TRIUMPHANT, by Irina Yazykova.  Go here for description and ordering info.

AN OFFERING FROM THE EARTH BECOMES FOOD FROM HEAVEN...

Jane G. Meyer has written two children's books, THE MAN AND THE VINE, and THE WOMAN AND THE WHEAT, that reveal beautifully how humanity's simple act of cooperation with God's creation and abundance brings not only food and drink for our enjoyment, but also an offering back to the Creator in worship - as bread and wine for Holy Communion. 

Boys in a Pasture, by Winslow Homer

The illustrations, by Ned Gannon, are colorfully rich and warm.  I was immediately reminded of the farms, fields, and open skies often seen in landscape paintings by artists such as Winslow Homer.  The pictures match Jane's lyrical and rhythmic text perfectly and will hold your children's attention to the very end of the books.

The first story, The Man and the Vine, is about the prayerful care a Man gives to his vineyard and the joy and anticipation of his first taste of the grape juice.  The pages that follow show a waxing and waning moon, and a shadowy cellar full of wine bottles...

With a sigh and a song, with a wink and a blink,

the grape who was juice went to sleep for a year.

A long, quiet year in a long, quiet room

where other juice slept too.

Then of course, the juice "wakes up" and the wine from the earth is offered to God. It becomes a Heavenly food, as the Man and his family partake of Communion...and the heavens sang along.

Jane's companion book, The Woman and the Wheat, is equally engaging - and a bit familiar, if children have ever watched their mothers baking bread.  (If not, Jane, an avid baker herself,  has a great blog at http://www.janegmeyer.wordpress.com/ - where she shares some wonderful recipes and many experiences on baking and giving.) 

Ned Gannon again lends his gorgeous artwork that brings Jane's storytelling alive, as a Woman plants some wheat and waits until spring, when she'll start working and weeding in the field.  She prays for the harvest of wheat that eventually goes to the miller, where it's turned into flour.

Now it's time to make the bread...With a splash of water, and a shake of salt; a sprinkle of yeast and a bowl full of flour, the woman brought the dough to life.  She swayed to and fro like a long stalk of wheat, working the dough with her strong warm hands, and the dough grew soft and smooth.

In the field, in her kitchen, and at church the Woman prays...

On her lips were more prayers of all sorts:  for the rain, and the sun, and the moon, and the wheat - and the bread that was to come. 

And her offering from the earth is a gift to God - and becomes His Gift to us - as  Food from Heaven.

Both books were published and are available at St. Vladamir's Seminary Press (www.svspress).  Get to know more about Jane, when you visit her website:  http://www.janegmeyer.com/.