Giving Grace - A Poem for You Today

​Giving Grace

Thanksgiving is
A day to connect
A day to cook
A day to mourn*
A day of remembering
multiciplicity

Snow falling gently 
Reminds me
how life, love and light
find space to breath
despite the weight of the world,
Or perhaps because of it? 

Life, love and light,
emanate warmth from the core
a warth that needs the cold
to remember itself
just as light needs darkness
to shine

On this Thanksgiving day,
I lay down my hands
and lift up my heart
to pray and say

May we come together in grief, gratitude and grounding

May we find the courage to heal our wounds with the clean pain of growth

May all beings be nourished with the warmth of love, light and liberation
 
*Thanksgiving is observed as a Day of Mourning by many Native American people, in recognition of lies told about the First Thanksgiving and ongoing settler colonialism in this land. For more context on the Day of Mourning, you're welcome to read the past three years of Water Wanderings' Thanksgiving newsletters. Each has links to resources and ways to take action: Gratitude for truth-tellers and our community, Resources for Re-envisioning Thanksgiving, Gratitude and Decolonization: Reimagining Thanksgiving. 
 
The theme of grief is especially relevant this year given the immense suffering happening in Gaza - a conflict which evokes horror and grief beyond words.

Ayannah's Jaguar Drawing: Our newest Auction Item 
 
Ayannah, pictured above with her mom Saudia, attended Water Wanderings camp in 2020 and again in 2023. When she came in 2020, it was her first time remote camping and she didn't know how to swim without a PFD (life vest). Despite strong fears of the dark, she made it through camp and grew tremendously from the experience. She decided to return in 2023 and was one of only two girls in the 13-15 session. She again overcame challenges and brought fun and joy to the group. Her resilience and strength are impressive, just like this jaguar, which she drew herself and decided to donate to the auction! We hope you'll consider bidding on it and bringing Ayannah's beautiful vision and resilience into your home. The auction closes on Tuesday, so get in the action before it's too late! 

bid now

Ayannah with Water Wanderings in 2020 and 2023