Jenny Knipfer–Author

Happy Thanksgiving week! It’s been a bit since I posted, but I’ve had a lot going on with my health. 

With my nerves getting confused and sending all sorts of mixed up signals lately with my new diagnosis of autonomic dysreflexia, I’ve been pondering the basics of life. Under certain conditions my nerves have told my blood pressure to skyrocket or plummet, neither good and both dangerous, with the potential to lead to a stroke or heart attack. 

Thankfully, I haven’t had too many dangerous episodes and now have a treatment to combat them, if one comes on, but coming to this somewhat precarious condition has focused me on being grateful for the simple things of life: breath in my lungs, a beating heart, love in my life, beginnings, and even endings. 

Here’s my thankful thoughts for this Thanksgiving, expressed in poem form…

The Basics of Thanksgiving 

Thanks for breath, that basic need

of life and pumping heart,

Thanks for sustenance, You feed,

my body and every part.

********

Thanks for love, that elemental must

without which I could not flourish,

Thanks for arms, embracing trust,

to guide and to nourish. 

********

Thanks for sun and wind and rain,

bringing life in due season,

Thanks for times of pain,

believing there’s a reason.

********

Thanks for new birth, all the earth rejoice

each living thing a tiny miracle,

Thanks for giving me a voice,

singing praise, unequivocal.

********

Thanks for endings, rest much needed,

from the toil and trial and flood,

Thanks for justice, duly meted,

by Your only righteous blood. 

*********

Thanks for Thanksgiving,

building a healthy attitude,

to not live inward, fearing and grumbling,

instead erecting a cairn of gratitude.

HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!