Faith, family, and friends...

With those last two intersecting and blurring the categorical lines.

When my father left his country by ship, he came here relying on those three to legally enter and prosper in America. As the eldest son, he said goodbye to his mother and father on the farm, perhaps knowing then he'd never see them again. It was a gamble sure, but a good one: my father is rather risk averse today, yet truly an independent man. Faith of our Fathers.

We Gather Together
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen.

--Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn
(A translation by Theodore Baker: 1851-1934)