Standing Stones

In biblical times, when something important happened, the people erected standing stones at the site of the event. History was preserved by telling the story of the event to children and to travelers who saw the stones and asked, “What happened here?” Two well known examples include the stones erected by Moses at the foot of Mount Sinai to commemorate God’s power and covenant with His people, and those erected on the bank of the Jordan by Joshua after God divided the river for the Israelites to safely pass through. They expressed the people’s gratitude and promise to remember.

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving – a day to gather with family and friends and remember; a day to express our gratitude to each other and to God. My youngest daughter, Lindsey, has been with me for several months. She was a gift and a blessing as she nursed me back to health faithfully and sweetly. Saturday we spent our last day in the desert together. She has moved back to Chicago and into the next chapter of her life. We took one of our favorite outings to hike at 49th and Shea, then to the Prayer Garden run by the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary. It was a glorious morning as we moved over the rocks among the cacti, under a beautiful fluffy blue sky, and surrounded by mountains. We stopped to take in the view and knew we wanted to mark this spot. We erected standing stones, each having been prompted to pick up a heart shaped rock for the top. What happened here? Relationship restored, love deepened, heartfelt gratitude expressed is what has happened here in the desert - definitely a place and time to remark and remember.

The Prayer Garden has a large and beautiful seven-sided fountain with each edge proclaiming the names of God and His loving qualities. There are drinking spigots at each name, with cups so you may refresh yourself with:
Father of Comfort
Father of Mercy
Father of Love
Father of Grace
Father of Patience
Father of Faithfulness
Father of Goodness

So much to be grateful for…and I am.
Today, be sure to take some time to get quiet and count your blessings. What events warrant standing stones in your life? If you can get to the actual site, go ahead and set up some stones and express your gratitude. If that is not possible, do it in your own backyard – or perhaps you would just do it in your heart or in your journal. The point is to tell the story – to remember – and to be thankful.

Blessed Thanksgiving,
Beth