Greetings friends
 
Celebrate life and all it has.  Let’s all wish the great Baruch a wonderful birthday and a glorious time with his children and grandchildren, and as his thanksgiving table continues to grow, I wish a joyous upcoming thanksgiving to all.  We all have so much to be thankful for.  Could we want more?  Yes.  Do we want more?  Usually.  Are we grateful for what we have?  Often not.
 
Take a mere moment every day to express some gratitude for one thing in your life.  We all have so much to be thankful for and grateful for.
 
Life is full of transitions, and this week we read about the transition from one patriarch to another, but this is an unusual story.  It is told out of chronological order.  It is not history; it is allegory.

When we change the order, we change the emphasis from story to lessons and the lessons in this week’s reading are: love wins, strength is not gender-based, the power of forgiveness.

Those three are woven into a tale of life, love, death, happiness, transitions, and soul mates.
 
We read of Sarah’s death, of Abraham’s other wife and family, of Isaac’s marriage and Abraham’s death – but not in their proper order.  Instead, we read that love wins; strength is not gender-based – as we read the most unusual betrothal scene in history – and we see the exercise of the forgiveness ritual for the first time in the bible as the lessons we are taught are about love, individual strength and forgiveness, and these lessons from four thousand years ago are the lessons of our lives still to this day.
 
Sarah dies, and Abraham buys the most famous tomb in history – the cave of Machpelah.  It establishes ownership and sets an argument in motion that has not been abated.

On his own deathbed, he sends his chief servant to his birth home to find a bride for his son, who has never married.

And this sets in motion our encountering the first woman of true strength who inherits the mantle of leadership.
 
The lessons of this chapter are the lessons of our lives.
 
Make them part of who you are; learn to love; share; care; forgive and make these attributes who you are all the time.
 
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Thank you all for allowing me into your homes, into your electronic devices, into your hearts – as you are all with me in mine –
 
Be well, be happy, be healthy, be free, be kind, be forgiving, be compassionate, be independent of mind and deed, be mindful of your intentions and be good to yourself.  Continue to celebrate freedom of choice in your life, do not give in to fear, and enjoy the peace that comes from acceptance – and as always - if you have any questions or suggestions or want to say “hi,” please send me an email.  I love hearing from you.
 
And remember, anytime you do not want to receive these anymore, please send me an email so I can remove you.  And know - that I truly appreciate your sharing your sacred time with me.
 
Enjoy and celebrate your life and the lives of others. In doing so, be safe, my friends, be happy, and may you all sow the seeds of and reap the rewards of peace, love, and miracles. Make sure you also celebrate your unique individuality and your incredible awesomeness. 
 
And remember – your world is what you make it.  Just wish upon a star and continue to be the angel in someone’s life.
  
Blessings