saying Grace (Thanksgiving 2023)

while saying Grace

may seem like

an unnecessary formality

around a table

including empty chairs

producing empty stares

reflecting empty spaces

in our Hearts

and lonely places

with languishing people

in our World

maybe our taking

that unneeded pause

and waiting with

some baited breaths

could cause us

to open our

eyes to recognize 

and honour those

who have spent

(and still spend)

their days receiving

and displaying Grace

without saying much

since their Lives

do the talking

that is needed

breathing new Hope

into our World

by Being authentic

and believing in

our shared Reality 

our Sacred Humanity

through Love that

illumines the Night

and Laughter that

confuses our fright

and Candor that

awakens our Sight

and Presence that

unveils the Light

and perhaps making

room for simple

moments like these

could help us

realize that those

spaces of absence

are in actuality

Places of Presence

Soil seeded 

with Possibility

where we can

find our Selves

feeling traces of

Joy and Hope

and seeing Faces 

of simple Beauty

and profound Spirit

who live on

in the Present

and in Memories

and within Mysteries

that are both

fleeting and freeing

and that may 

end up being

our saving Grace...

Thanks.

#200wordprayers #HappyThanksgiving2023 #RememberingAndCelebratingBelovedsPresentInPersonAndInSpiritAlways 

('Community of Thanksgiving' © Terri Davis)