My granddaughter told me that on Thanksgiving, you go to a lot of houses, knock on the door and say, “Happy Thanksgiving” and then they give you turkey. I think that would be a better holiday and wouldn’t it be a blessing if we followed the Rule of St. Benedict to “Let everyone that comes be received as Christ.”

So I offer this simple prayer:

O 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 home,
help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer,
And remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency;
bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.
Amen.

-Samuel F. Pugh