Thanksgiving is such a happy time on Canaan. We Sisters make sure that none of our little family is missing, no one out of town. We all want to be together for the occasion, and often we have some guests. Thanksgiving is special for us. During the day some Sisters go to minister and distribute encouraging leaflets and gifts at various dining rooms in our city, for example the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul etc. There a wonderful thanksgiving dinner is served to many people. When the Sisters return to Canaan, it is usually time for the Thanksgiving Service in our Chapel. Here we sing and thank the Heavenly Father for all His goodness. When we come into the dining room, the tables are beautifully decorated and we have a joyful Thanksgiving meal. After dinner comes a very special time where every one shares something personal that they want to praise God for.
-
Sisters thanking for RAIN
One Sister shares:
My Hush Puppy Shoes
Ever since I was a little girl, shoe shopping was something I dreaded. Because of my “problem feet,” my mother and I would usually trudge from store to store for days, not finding anything. Now I had been assigned to our branch in Phoenix, Arizona, where the desert soil made it even more vital to have good shoes. I definitely needed a new pair of shoes and prayed for them. A dear friend of ours kindly offered to take me to the store and buy them for me. But she had no idea that it wasn’t that easy. In and out from store to store, and still we couldn’t find anything suitable. Somewhat discouraged, we had to return home without having accomplished anything.
But that was not the end of the story. The following Sunday after church someone stuck a brown paper bag under my arm. I quickly turned around to see who it was, but the donor, who apparently did not want to be identified, was gone. I peeked into the bag – a pair of brown Hush Puppy shoes! Once at home I tried them on – perfect fit!
I could barely believe what had happened. None of the shoe stores we visited had anything to fit me! The Father in heaven had hand-picked and hand-delivered my shoes – right size, right color and perfect fit with a sturdy sole for a comfortable walk on the desert ground.
My Father, oh how good You are!
Sister Domitilla
You can find this story in “Realities in the Desert”page 133
Enjoy a Thanksgiving Video
[wpvideo 4nnujLMQ]
Giving “Thanks” means to receive. This reminds us that for every difficulty in our lives, the way to receive help is to give thanks. There is tremendous power in thanking the Lord. When we give thanks something happens whether we’re in a hopeless situation or in the midst of money, job or family problems. When we say, “Lord, You always have a way,” we praise the love of God which finds a way and carries us through. MB