Help Me To Remember

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Oh, God, when I have food,

help me to remember the hungry;

When I have work, help me

to remember the jobless;

When I have a warm home,

help me to remember the homelesss;

When I am without pain,

help me to remember those who suffer;

And remembering, help me

to destroy my complacency

and bestir my compassion.

Make me concerned enough

to help, by word and deed,

those who cry out

for what we take for granted.

- Samuel F. Pugh

I asked a young woman waiting in the long line of cars on Washington Street, What's happening this morning?

She said, "We're in line for Christmas food from the Salvation Army food pantry."
"Christmas food?" I said.
"Yeah," she said.
There must've been fifty cars.
"Okay, well, take care and Merry Christmas!" I said.
"You too!" she said.


I still have a lump in my throat.

How about this?

For every sweater, gadget, or I-tunes card we gift to someone this season, let's gift a can (or two) of food to a local food pantry.