As Thanksgiving has gotten closer, I've been thinking a lot lately about the concept of "enough." I even pulled ye olde Webster's off the shelf to look up its definition:e-nough (i nuf'), adj. adequate for the want or need; sufficient for the purpose or to satisfy the desire.
I'm not just contemplating "enough" because Thanksgiving--and the whole winter holiday season--is a time when we all circle the concept. On one hand, the holidays can become an overindulgence, especially in the food department--too much, ever more, never enough. I suspect that a lot of us wrestle with the guilty feeling that we're flirting with gluttony throughout the holidays. On the other hand, the holidays can drive us to dwell on those things we don't have enough of--money, love, happiness. Somewhere in the middle of these two extremes is the peace of "enough."
On the overindulgence front, here's my question--why should we hold back on full plates, loud laughter, generous gifting, and tight hugs? Isn't meagerness, stinginess, and tightness just as bad, if not worse, than "too much?" Yes - which is why I am after what I call "enough abundance" this holiday season. Enough should mean satisfaction, satiety, pure contentment with the food in our bodies and the smiles on our faces. It should mean being full in every sense of the word, and making peace with the things in our lives that we want but don't yet have.
Bob Perks, a longtime Beliefnet contributor, published an essay with us years ago titled "I Wish You Enough." I think of the phrase often, it's really been a guidepost for me over the years. I want to propose the prayer he includes in the article as possible words for you to say around your Thanksgiving table:
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
(image via: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezo/2579878358/)
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As One who is so very ABUNDANT in the 'Simplicities' of My life, this message resonates beautifully with My heart. It aligns with a Message of "A Whisper of Angels" which encourages Us to: ~~~Celebrate True Abundance~~~ I am rich beyond measure Amid God’s precious gifts Blessed with abundance Which ‘Spirit’ uplifts Aligned with the Angels With nary a fear In celebration of God’s presence My heart is sincere With evolving new consciousness Truth no longer concealed It is not in the tangibles That fortunes revealed Accept not mediocrity Or one may befall But when opening the heart God’s gifts will enthrall I am rich I acknowledge Nothing to do with the bank For God & My Angels Are the reason I Thank Welcoming peace ‘Spirit’ joyously entertains All of God’s blessings My life’s purpose ordained I am rich beyond measure And You can be too Relinquish the past Without further review Its all in God’s time Your heart will then thrive For You’ll KNOW in that moment You’re richly alive “A Whisper of Angels 20June2008/C Blessings for ENOUGH on THANKSgiving...& Always!!!As One who is so very ABUNDANT in the 'Simplicities' of My life, this message resonates beautifully with My heart. It aligns with a Message of "A Whisper of Angels" which encourages Us to:
~~~Celebrate True Abundance~~~
I am rich beyond measure
Amid God’s precious gifts
Blessed with abundance
Which ‘Spirit’ uplifts
Aligned with the Angels
With nary a fear
In celebration of God’s presence
My heart is sincere
With evolving new consciousness
Truth no longer concealed
It is not in the tangibles
That fortunes revealed
Accept not mediocrity
Or one may befall
But when opening the heart
God’s gifts will enthrall
I am rich I acknowledge
Nothing to do with the bank
For God & My Angels
Are the reason I Thank
Welcoming peace
‘Spirit’ joyously entertains
All of God’s blessings
My life’s purpose ordained
I am rich beyond measure
And You can be too
Relinquish the past
Without further review
Its all in God’s time
Your heart will then thrive
For You’ll KNOW in that moment
You’re richly alive
“A Whisper of Angels
20June2008/C
Blessings for ENOUGH on THANKSgiving...& Always!!!
Whispering...with ENOUGH
DonnaChristine Park
"The Little Ol' Lady AND the SHOES"
WALK a MILE in MY SHOES...on the Path to PEACE!!!
AH, what a great prayer. Wishing and seeing you with enough is enough for me.
I pray that God will find a way to compensate the American Indians for the mayham and theft of land vested against them by christianity.
Thank you to everyone for the "Enough Prayer." Happy Thanksgiving.
This poem touched me in so many ways Thank You! Everyone have a wonderful "Thanksgiving"
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