During the day, that we give thanks,
We surround ourselves with families and friends,
And gather around the table.
The dining area is filled with echoes of laughter,
shining smiles, and happy conversation.
Before taking part in the spread of food and breaking bread,
We all pray and remember all the things we are thankful for.
Many phrases are the ones we’ve heard before,
Repeated year after year, and may go something like this…
“I am thankful for my family.”
“I am thankful for my home.”
“I am thankful for the food that we have before us today.”
“We are thankful to be alive, to be able to breathe, and to have
woken up to live another day.”
But…have you heard about the thankless?
Did you remember the thankless?
When I say “The thankless,” I am not talking about those who are not thankful.
Or those who are foolish and may take life for granted…
I’m not talking about the people who are greedy,
Nor am I speaking about those who are evil.
I am speaking of “the thank-less.”
The ones who have LESS.
Who may wish for the very things that we are thankful for.
…Such as, the cold homeless man who
slept outdoors under the overpass last night.
The single mother and her hungry children,
who can’t make enough to feed her hungry children,
Who worries what she will feed them tomorrow.
Or the little girl who slept on a cot
among many other homeless people in a shelter,
With her old well-loved ratty teddy bear, the only toy she owns…
But - even though it may be the only toy she owns, she is thankful for it.
That little homeless girl is thankful to have a bed and warm blankets tonight.
And that cold homeless man who slept under the overpass,
he was able to keep dry from the evening and morning mist.
For that, he was thankful for some type of shelter once again.
The single mother with her hungry children, was given a sack of groceries
from her local food pantry…
Now she will be able to feed her family for a few days.
That single mom is so thankful for the smiles on her childrens’ faces.
This season, and all year, I remember the thankless.
I will pray for the thankless.
For they may have less,
But are thankful for the little that they have.
Pray for the thankless.
They are still thankful even in their tough times.
Perhaps even we can learn a few lessons from the thankless…
… Maybe instead of being thankFUL, we could be more thankLESS…
It’s the little things in life that mean the most.
***************************
*When you come across someone who could be “Thank-less” please remember
Hebrews 13:16: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have.”
Ariana R Cherry (Nov) 2022
“Within the depths of our mind, we are battling the duel of light and darkness…good and evil…love and hate…” Between Light and Darkness is Ariana’s most recent collection of poetry… Cherry’s frequent message she delivers throughout her work is, “The journey through the darkness, back into the light.”
Her hope is to let others know that they won’t be in that place of darkness for long – that they indeed can reach the light once again…She also wants her readers to know – that – it is okay if they find themselves in that bleak blackness…Sometimes we feel guilty for going to that dark place – but it is necessary to conquer the demons that battle our souls….
Other books that Cherry has written include "Only If" and "Twisted Paths Poetry." Her epic tale, “Only If,” won the “Reader’s Favorite Award” and a 5 star review…and her collection, “Twisted Paths Poetry,” received a 5 star review from Realistic Poetry International.
She has been writing ever since she was a child. Some of her inspirations include Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Frost, Stephen King, Emily Dickinson, Christopher Pike and Shel Silverstein.
Ariana writes a variety of genres: inspirational, humorous and horror – although writing horror is one of her favorites…. She was 12 years old when she read Poe for the very first time – which inspired her epic poetry tale, “Only If.“
During other parts of her free time, she enjoys taking photos and creating art. Her “day-jobs” include working as a church administrative aide and reporting for a local newspaper.
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Ariana R. Cherry: Poet & Artist 