A Thanksgiving Thought
These days it’s difficult to avoid what has become almost a mantra in the political news: ‘quid pro quo’. Either there was or there wasn’t ‘quid pro quo’. This for that. Something in return for another thing. I open one hand to deliver a value to you only and if you open your hand to deliver a value to me.
But it’s Thanksgiving time. In our country, where the cultural norm is to at least to keep the scales balanced in giving and getting, we set aside one day to try to remember that all is gift. And we do our best to allow ourselves to experience a humble amazement at the riches that are ours without any merit on our part. So many ‘quids’, if you will, with no possible ‘quos’. Even those of us with very little in the way of comforts, material goods, status or power can recognize the giftedness of life. In fact, for such as these, the recognition of such seems easier, often.
The first year I worked in the Hispanic community teaching English to Spanish speakers, I encountered utter bewilderment on the faces of my students when I explained our Thanksgiving holiday. “But,” I was asked, “why do you have only one day to give thanks? Isn’t thanks given every day?” Indeed!
We at Adelante Mujeres do give thanks every day for so much. At this time of year, however, we take special joy in considering all the people who ‘do good’ for us: our benefactors. With both hands open they come to us. People of considerable means, and people of not so much. Gifts of time, energy, labor, talent and yes, of much needed funds. No quid pro quo here. With open hands and deep gratitude we receive each gift. We hope and pray that in your giving you, too, have received. Receive our profound thanks.
If we take the time during this season, we can all become more aware that deeper than the capitalist economy in which we make our way each day there is an economy of Grace that gives us life and joy and ties that bind us to one another in gratitude for all that is.
Blessed Thanksgiving to each and to all who have become a part of that living community which is Adelante Mujeres.
Sister Barbara Raymond has been a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names since 1960. After spending many years teaching in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, she has lived and worked in Western Washington County since 1992, when she came to Centro Cultural, from which she and Bridget Cooke set out to begin Adelante Mujeres.