Thanks, Forgiving Day

THANKS, FORGIVING DAY

"It's happening already!" he said to me.
"What?"
"The last I looked it was July 4th and now suddenly it's the holiday season," he said smiling.
"I'm not ready for this at all," I told him.
"Oh, it may have come too fast, but I'm always ready for my 'Thanks Forgiving Day!'"
"You mean Thanksgiving Day?"
"Oh, that too!"
"I'm confused!" I said.

"Well, Thanksgiving Day isn't celebrated on the same day around the world. I'm not even sure if some countries have such a day. So I celebrate Thanksgiving Day with my family and friends in America. However, the day before Thanksgiving, I celebrate 'Thanks, Forgiving Day' with all my international friends as well as those here at home."
"Do you travel that much?"
"Oh, no. I've never had that luxury. I met all of these wonderful people on the Internet."
"I call them 'friends I've never met'," I said proudly. "I too, have many from around the world."
"Well then you must celebrate it, too."
"Tell me about it."

"Well, on Thanksgiving Day I give thanks for all the blessings in my life. Good health, love, friendship, work, the food I eat and everything I value."
He paused for a moment, took a deep breath and sighed with great satisfaction that his life is so blessed.
"But on 'Thanks Forgiving Day', the Wednesday before, I make an effort to ask for forgiveness for any wrongs I have done. Even the smallest things that may have gone unchecked over the past year. You know, those little things that may have hurt someone's feelings and I didn't realize it. But also the big things which may have caused a hurt or lost friendship. I simply ask everyone to forgive me and thank them for opening their hearts to me again."

I stood there listening to this wonderful man. He was one of those people whom you immediately trusted. His voice, his demeanor, were warm and welcoming.

It was a wonderful thought. A gesture that gives hope to the world. To think that in some small way we could undermine all of the hate and anger in the world by humbly asking to be forgiven even when we have done nothing wrong. The act itself is a reflection of the greatest love God has for us.

"So will you join me?" he asked.
"I just did!"

To you, my friend, reading this message: When I awaken each morning my heart sings a grateful tune to God for giving me still another chance to make a difference in this world.

On this -- my Thanks, Forgiving Day -- I humbly ask for your forgiveness if I have slighted you in any way during the past year. I treasure your presence in my life and if you would forgive me, I would be forever grateful. Thanks!

by Bob Perks
Used by Permission

Bob is an Inspirational Columnist for Beliefnet
http://www.beliefnet.com/author/author_148.html
and you can visit his site at http://www.BobPerks.com