Ruth Marlene Friesen: Welcome!

This site is like Ruthe, the heroine of my novel, Ruthe's Secret Roses

Ruthe is. . .
intimate with God,
prays a lot,
a bleeding heart for the hurting,
a big sister,
rescues friends,
has creative ideas,
likes to give surprise gifts,
loyal to friends,
dreams of love and marriage,
dreams of writing a book
goes the extra mile

So this site offers;
good books to read!
help to become Friends with God,
The One Ideal Real Friend
a cure for loneliness
An Older Sister's Coping Secret
how to pray Panic Prayers,
& regularly/daily
devotionals,
how to grow in faith
Christian mentoring,
how to share your faith
character development
how to become a writer



te-Oh-oh!

My earliest memories go back-- well, they get a bit vague now in early childhood, but as long as I can remember we've celebrated Thanksgiving the second Monday of October. With the wonders of Internet search, I've learned some new facts about it though.

www.canadafirst.net/our_heritage/thanksgiving/ says we had the FIRST Thanksgiving, a full 43 years before the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock. Likely in sub-zero temperatures on a barren, windswept moonscape by a muttering, mutinous crowd wondering about "their chief."

In 1576, Sir Martin Frobisher, looking for the Spice Islands, landed instead on Baffin Island. He must've been quite optimistic. Despite a barren landscape and permanent frost in the ground, he stayed two years mining gold, which turned out to be Fool's Gold when he got back home, but while on Baffin Island, he organized a Thanksgiving Day celebration.

1710 Records at Port Royal, Nova Scotia, indicate an October 10 thanksgiving celebration to mark the return of the town to the English. In 1763, Halifax celebrated the end of the Seven Years War with a similar ceremony.

In 1879, Parliament formally declared November 6 as a day of Thanksgiving. This continued until after the Armistice of WWI, when Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day would have happened during the same week. It was changed to the present, second Monday of October.

I was surprised to learn on this site - www.calendar-updates.com/Holidays/Canada/thanksgiving.htm Thanksgiving Day is a statutory holiday throughout all Canada except the Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island). Hey, I thought we all did this!

Way before that, European farmers celebrated harvest results with a curved goat's horn filled with fruit and grains, calling it a "horn of plenty." This tradition came with them to Canada.

During the American Revolution, Americans loyal to England came to Canada, bringing their Thanksgiving customs to the mix. We have a lot in common. Mostly the big turkey dinner for family and friends, and the special theme of thanksgiving in church services. TV sports for sluggish couch potatoes afterwards.

This is where I veer off and start asking myself questions. Is God pleased, or do we miss the mark in showing true gratitude to Him?

How would my dear Friend, Jesus, suggest I celebrate? Is it food I want to celebrate or the Great Giver-God?

I've discovered what a grateful heart and mind does for my health, and how it attracts people rather than repelling them as a negative outlook does.

However, is an attitude of gratitude enough? Does it recognize the source of all blessings, and bring glory to Him?

I better plan a deeper dimension to my celebration, even if I do it all alone. If possible I should involve my family, which will be Dad and me spending time on Sunday with my brother Tom in the city.

I know! I'll suggest we go for a walk along the lovely Spadina Drive beside the river. (Saskatoon is famous for its beautiful views of the Saskatchewan River). What's more, I'll write a worshipful poem of praise to the beautiful Rose of Sharon, the Balm of Gilead, the Bright Morning Star, the everlasting Creator of the whole universe!


~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`
Ruth Marlene Friesen makes friends wherever she goes!
Just like her heroine, Ruthe, in Ruthe's Secret Roses,
http://Ruthes-SecretRoses.com/RSR.html Her friends
become her rare roses. http://Ruthes-SecretRoses.com
Subscribe to RoseBouquet, her biweekly blog/ezine
http://Ruthes-SecretRoses.com/RoseBouquet/index.shtml
~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`

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