Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-01-07
REAL THANKSGIVING.
a Suggestion for the Praise. PRAYER
and Performance Which Should
Mark the Day.

Back OF the loaf is the snowy flour:
And back of the flour is the mill.
And back of the mill is the wheat and the
shower
And the sun, and the Fathers will"
Praise is comely for the upright"
and instinctively we turn, at this glad
season OF the year, to such great Thanks
giving Psalms, as the one hundred and
third and the one hundred and eight
zenith, and through them endeayor TO
express our gratitude to the Giver of all
GOOD who mas crowned our lives with
owing kindness and tender mercies."
And as we seriously contemplate the
FATHERS goodness to ourselves. we nat
urally pray that all mankind may have
some share in these blessings. But in
our rejoicing and praying we should not
'orSet that God expects us to pass on
TO others a portion OF His special good
ness to ourselves. Each one of us should
endeavor to have something of the beau
titul spirit that prompted George Mac
Donald to say: IF can put one touch
OF a rosy sunset into the life of any man
or woman, l shall feel that l have
worked with God"
A man was told of two motherless
children in a wretched garrett. 20 Lord.
he prayed, please send Thy angels to
watch over and protect these dear babes
IN their time of needi" And then a
voice seemed to say to him: Thou art
My angel; go thou and care for these,
My little ones" To his credit be il said.
he Immediately acted upon this spir:t.
given suggestion, sought out the cheer
less garnet, and provided the friendEess
children with a comfortable home.
When We pray that suffering may be re-
lieved, let us be quite sure in our hearts
that we have tried to do our duty in this
direction.
AT certain Thanksgiving season
years ago, a New England minister
found himself and family sadly IN need.
OF the necessities of life. In his eytrem-
tty, he resolved to inform his people of
his condition, and to request them to
meet e. his house 70 pray that III some
way God would send relief. The meet
ing was held, number of the neighbors
assembling to offer up petitions in be-
half of their needy minister. In the
midst of the supplications. a hearty
knock was heard at the front door.
Opening it, the minister found bright
faced, light-hearted boy, who cried out
cheerily:
Father was unable to come to the
meeting, so he has sent me with his
prayers. You'll find them here in the
cart; please help me to unload" And
there before the astonished and tear
dimmed eyes of the grateful servant of
God, was a pile of grain, fruit and vege-
tables, sufficient to last him and his
family for many wintry day.
What an object lesson for those who
had merely come to prayl What an OBJ
lect lesson for us who do not unite
works with our faithl What doth il
profit, my brethren, though a man say
he hath faith, and have not works? Can
faith save him? If a brother or sister
be naked, and destitute of daily food,
and one of you say unto them, Depart
IN peace, 5e We warmed and filled; not
withstanding We gise them not those
things which are needful to the body,
what doth il profit?"
Whether we live in city, town. hamlet
or country, there are those about us who
will need something directly from us
in order that an added bit of Thanksgiv-
ing cheer may come into their lives. 1t
may be money, food, clothing, or only
a kindly word; but something they
need, and that something we should be
quick to give. Let us find out these
needy ones, says Allan Sutherland, in
the New York Observer, and as they
stretch duplicating hands to Heaven
Tor aid, may it be our glorious privilege
TO be the medium through which GODS
blessings shall come to them. Lowell
teaches a much-needed lesson in the
following stanZa, the first line of which
we have somewhat changed:
Thanksgiving day is kept indeed
IN whatso we share with anothers need.
Not what we give, but what we share
For the gift without the giver is bare:
Who gives himself with his aims feeds
three
Himself. his hungering neighbor, and Me-"