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Posts Tagged ‘canada’

Thanksgiving … even if

Posted in WONDER, tagged canada, FAMILY, gratitude, holidays, Thanksgiving on October 14, 2024| 2 Comments »

In Canada we are celebrating Thanksgiving today.

There is much to be thankful for in our safe, prosperous, opportunity-laden corner of the world.

Yet …

There are also burdens, heartaches, sorrows and misfortunes in our lives as well.

As I drove yesterday, mentally planning all of the meal preparatory steps when I would arrive back home, I audibly said,

‘it is Thanksgiving and what am I thankful for?’

and the list began with names of those I hold closest to my heart, followed by provisions for life, followed by things I often forget to be thankful.

Then I made an even if statement of thanks. And one even if statement of thanks became more, and more and even more. And I realized that the more I declared my thanks in the even if situations the lighter I felt … as if

thanksgiving is the antecedent to, not the result of joy.

I am thankful … even if my heart is breaking.

I am thankful … even if I didn’t get the job I wanted.

I am thankful … even if I am not where I thought I would be at this point.

I am thankful … even if I did not get into the school I had planned.

I am thankful … even if my husband/wife left me.

I am thankful … even if my husband/wife/child died.

I am thankful … even if I am struggling financially.

I am thankful … even if my kids are struggling.

I am thankful … even if I am lonely.

I am thankful … even if I am dying.

I am thankful … even if …

In the book of Acts, Paul and Silas had been arrested, stripped, flogged and put in chains in prison. The account says that “about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” (16:25). If ever there were a day when it might make sense to abstain from thanksgiving and worship to God, this might have been such a day. Yet, that is exactly what they did, after a day of torture, fear and the removal of their rights.

May we all be thankful today … even if.

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R & R

Posted in WONDER, tagged #canadaday, #canadapride, #canadiancharterofrightsandfreedoms, #goldenrule, #july1, #r&r, #rightsandresponsibilities, canada on July 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

It is said that if you make something personal, actually place yourself within it, that thing will have more relevance for you.

“O Canada!

My home and native land!

True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts I see thee rise,

The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,

O Canada, I stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!

O Canada, I stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, I stand on guard for thee.”

I love to sing O Canada, and singing it, among hundreds or thousands of others is just the best. Some of my favorite memories from living in Canada’s national capital of Ottawa, Ontario, are times of singing our nations anthem at Parliament Hill, among the throngs of others proud to be Canadian.

Canada is my home, by birth, and I take seriously the rights and responsibilities that come from such a birthright.

That is correct, rights and responsibilities, not rest and relaxation (in case that is how you interpreted R&R).

To live in this country of Canada is to be blessed with amazing rights and freedoms, many of which are reminiscent of the Magna Carta (MC) of 1215 (England).

The Rights:

free speech (MC)
voting
move throughout the country
equal treatment under the law
language (French or English federally)

The fundamental freedoms (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms):

conscience and religion (MC)
thought, belief, expression (including freedom of the press) (MC)
peaceful assembly (MC)
freedom of association (MC)

These rights and freedoms make Canada what she is, but not without responsibilities as well.

And what are our responsibilities, as Canadian citizens?

According to the government of Canada, these are:

to obey the law
to take responsibility for yourself and your family
to serve as jury
to vote
to help others in your community
to protect our heritage and environment

These responsibilities are extremely important, if we are to fully know and experience our rights and freedoms. To these responsibilities, I would add one more. This one gives feet to all other responsibilities.

“do to others as you would have them do to you“
Luke 6:31

It is said that if you make something personal, actually place yourself within it, that thing will have more relevance for you.

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Canadian

Posted in WONDER, tagged canada, Canada Day, july 1, russell peters on July 1, 2013| Leave a Comment »

canada-day

I am a Canadian!

And as it is Canada Day, I thought I would share a little (clean) humor, a cute Canadian song for my kids, and the way many Canadians ended their day back when I was a teen.

Happy Canada!

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As Far as the East is from the West …

Posted in life, WONDER, tagged canada, East Coast, Flying Home, How Far the East is from the West, Life, Saying Goodbyes, Vacation on August 24, 2011| 2 Comments »

The day began as most have, while visiting my parents. I awake at least a half hour before my alarm goes off … despite not feeling rested, and having awakened numerous times in the night. As soon as my mind awakens, so does my bladder … and it’s an urgent awakening (how does that happen? You are sleeping comfortably, but as soon as your mind awakens to the day, your bladder is doing a 911 call).

After a shower, tea and homemade biscuits (tomorrow I will start the day with coffee and a ten mile hike, to try to work off these biscuits), we were off to the airport.

Gone are the days of ‘super packing’ your suitcase with whatever would fit … now they weigh your bags, and not just to save the backs of the luggage handlers … but also as money-making scam (I am sure the airlines public logic is in keeping with being more environmentally responsible … but I still see it as an airline money-maker, otherwise more conservative packers would be offered a rebate from the airlines). All of that to say, I was required to do a bit of re-packing of my goods, and was sad to not be able to bring back the entire case of Simply Crispie (www.topfundraisers.ca/chocbars.htm) chocolate bars … sorry kids!

After tears filled our eyes (but, we are far too … mature to let them fall …), I entered airport security. A friendly security gentleman asked, before I was even able to breath yet, how I was doing today … all I could respond was ‘tormented’.

I passed through security, boarded my flight to Montreal. There I waited for over two hours … texting hubby, emailing, writing, people watching. And then on to my final destination … Vancouver, BC.

Anyone with loved ones who live away from where you live understands my ‘tormented’ response to the security personnel. Each farewell you are tormented with two realities. One is that your life is not where their life is, and the other is that each farewell could be a final one.

It is then that I am acutely aware how far the east is from the west. It is not like we can drive there in a day, or fly there in a couple of hours … we cannot even fly directly there from where we live. It takes planning, and effort to get together.

This day was really heavy for me … leaving always is. And I am not expecting it to get easier or lighter anytime soon. Because we live in such a large, such a vast country … and as the plane touched down on the west coast … nine and a half hours after taking flight from the east coast I was so very aware of how far the east is from the west.

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