Robbo's Thanksgiving Thought

Okay, let's see if this makes the slightest bit of sense.

As I sit here waiting for the Missus and the Llama-ettes to finish up with the punkin' pie and the potatoes so that I can get at the oven with Mr. Briney Turkey, I'm led to reflect on what a profound effect I believe my decision to swim the Tiber has had on my very ability to appreciate the gifts I have received in my life. Earlier this year, I was feeling parched and barren, listless and numb. But since finally answering the Call, I have been infused with such a dose of the Spirit that I have been far, far happier than I've been for a very long time, indeed perhaps than I've ever been before. And I am learning to take the love of God - which has always been there, of course, but which I feel ever so much more tangibly - and translate it into a far deeper love and gratitude for all those in my life, especially for my family. The change, if I may say so, has been rayther astounding.

So I think that on this day I'd especially like to give thanks to God not just for the blessings that He's given me, but also for His steering my spirit to appreciate and embrace those blessings ever so much more deeply, as well as helping my voice to make my thanks for them humbler, more sincere and more grateful.

Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur.
Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi caeli et universae Potestates;
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,
Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,
Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.
Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia,
Patrem immensae maiestatis:
Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.
Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris.
Iudex crederis esse venturus.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.

V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.
R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.

V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te.
R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.

V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
R. Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.

V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.
R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.

(I don't know if this is technically proper for the day, but I feel quite compelled to say it.)

Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless all of you!