Canadian Thanksgiving

While there was much rumbling, most notably the bears tearing down the markets on a global scale, it was good to sit down for a quiet family thanksgiving dinner, with all the trimmings. The FEC presented a thought-provoking concert, with a mezz0-soprano giving us some glorious tunes -- not Brahms, but close enough. Dubbed "He Has My Voice -- Psalms from the Heart." As m.c., I borrowed from theologian Richard Foster, in the middle of the program, with a simple story:
One day a man was walking through a shopping mall with his two-year-old son. The child was in a particularly cranky mood, fussing and fuming. The frustrated father tried everything to quiet his son but nothing seemed to help. The child simply would not obey. Then, under some special inspiration, the father scooped up his son and holding him close to his chest began singing an impromptu love song. None of the words rhymed. He sang off key. And yet, as best he could, this father began sharing his heart. “I love you,” he sang. “I’m so glad you’re my boy. You make me happy. I like the way you laugh.” On and on he sang as they went from one store to another, quietly singing off key and making up words that did not rhyme. The child relaxed and became still, listening to this strange and wonderful song. Finally they finished shopping and went to the car. As the father opened the door and prepared to buckle his son into the car seat the child lifted his head and said simply, “Sing it to me again, Daddy! Sing it to me again.
"I added the following comment as closing:
If you think about it, prayer is like that simple father’s song. So with simplicity of heart, I hope you have allowed yourself to be gathered up into the arms of the Father and let him sing his love song over you.