Ever since my daughter started working for charity: water my gratitude for the abundant flow from my faucets has gone up a peg. When I take glasses out of the dishwasher and give them an extra rinse just to get that last spot, or fill a pan with water to boil for pasta, or rinse out the chicken waterers, I think of the images of women who walk miles every day just to refill dirty buckets for drinking. 

This fall a group of women, my twins, and I sewed a stained glass quilt to raffle for bringing water to families in Africa. There are twenty people who have bought tickets so far, and it has funded water for half again as many people. The effort took a hundred hours, and twelve yards of fabric, but it will mean more to the people in the Sahara than a quilt ever could. I don't think staying warm is an issue. It will be exciting to pull a name on December 14th. Maybe it will be yours if you buy a ticket. 

Thanksgiving is a day to attend to our blessings. Water is high on the list for me. It was not even in the top fifty before August, even though I relied on it as much in 2012 as I do now. But gratitude is an acquired habit, and sometimes shows up best in relief against those who go without. 

One woman told me that she came to value her marriage much more after she was divorced. I pray that I don't need to lose mine to find it.