When you go to bed with a contented mind, recall the blessings and generous providence of God; be filled with holy thoughts and great joy. Then, while your body sleeps, your soul will keep watch; the closing of the your eyes will bring you a true vision of God; your silence will be pregnant with sanctity, and in your sleep you will continue to glorify the God of all with the full strength of your soul.
St. Anthony the Great

These words by St. Anthony give us a tremendous challenge. Each night going to bed "with a contented mind, recalling the blessings and generous providence of our loving Lord."

During the month of November, fellow Americans will gather together Thanksgiving Day, to give thanks to God for all blessings. Yet, as Orthodox Christians we are invited to "recall the blessings and the generous providence of God" each and every day. St. Anthony stresses, "when you go to bed with a contented mind..." Therefore, we need to lay our troubles, stress, and anxieties at the foot of the Lord's life-giving cross, and work towards falling asleep with a "contented mind," free of life's worries or troubles. As we say in the Divine Liturgy's Great Entrance "Let us lay aside all our earthly cares that we may receive the King of all!"

I admit, over the past year, like many, I have experienced difficulty sleeping. So often, we allow our minds and hearts to wonder consumed with our "to do lists," our "what if's?" "why me's?" and thoughts that bother us for hours causing restless sleep.

I am reminded of the wise words of Mother Ines, "If you have a thought that bothers you for more than an hour, you need to confess it." Indeed, these thoughts enter our minds ~ festering, sinking to our hearts and souls. It is through the Holy Sacrament of Confession and through sincere repentance that we can be freed. It is also in partaking of the Holy Eucharist that we meet our loving Lord -- the healer of all. Before receiving communion we make an active decision to seek peace, forgiveness and love with all who surround us. We must also make a conscious decision for thankfulness and "recalling the blessings and generous providence of God."

We have things both immeasurable and personal to be thankful for not only during this season, but at the end of each and every day. We have the incredible realization that God created this vast physical universe so that each one of us could live and breathe -- surrounded by a faith community of love. And, we have the equally incredible realization that the same tremendous power that created a universe so large that we cannot fully understand, is also available to each one of us to heal the broken parts of ourselves, and the broken parts of our relationships with each other. That immense, universal love is also an intensely personal and human love, which comes from our Lord Jesus Christ--who wishes to have a relationship of mutual love and understanding with each one of us.

When we say "Thanks for everything" to God, it is not just a nice little phrase. Let us really mean it in our hearts and recognize that everything comes from God.

Fr. Tom

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

This it the day of the Lord! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Let us thank the Lord for daily food, health and the blessings of home.
Let us love one another in the Lord.

Now we live in Christ through the Holy Spirit and we look for the day when we will dwell with Him in His glorious kingdom. Savior, bless these Your gifts which we receive from Your hand. May the light of Your resurrection shine in us and through us to all, for our honor and glory. Amen.