American journalist and writer, Charles Fulton Oursler grew up in Baltimore in the late 19th century. He worked as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun. The quality of his reporting was such that he was hired by a New York City newspaper as an editor. Eventually he was the Supervising Editor for a host of magazines from 1921-1941. During his childhood Oursler's family engaged a loving Afro-American woman who served as a housekeeper, cook, and nanny. Anna's nurturing touched Charles Oursler deeply. All of his life he had a mental picture of Anna sitting at the kitchen table with her hands folded on her starched, white apron. With her head bowed, she'd pray, "Much obliged, Lord, for the food you've provided." She'd often tell the young Charles, "We may work for our food, but saying thank you to the Lord makes it taste a whole lot better." Although the Oursler's family had enough to employ Anna, they lived very modestly. When he was a teenager, Oursler asked Anna how she could be thankful for the simple things she had." She told him, "When I was a little girl, our church had a pastor who told us again and again that our first thought in the morning ought to be about something for which we are thankful to God. There's something to be thankful for each and every day." Oursler left home and his childhood religion behind and focused on his career. His spiritual life dimmed amidst his rising ambition. Years later Oursler was at work in New York City, when he received word that Anna was dying. He rushed back to Baltimore in time to see her. As he look at Anna whose body was withered from illness and age, he wondered, "What she could possibly be thankful for that morning." Anna awoke and saw Oursler sitting at her bedside. She look up him with joy in her eyes. Then she closed her eyes and prayed aloud, "Thank you, Lord, for bringing my dear friend home to see me." Anna died that day, but her prayer changed Oursler's life. Charles Fulton Oursler wrote several novels most of which had a religious theme. He is best known for writing The Greatest Story Ever Told and Father Flanagan of Boy's Town. Although Oursler achieved fame and most fortune, he never forgot Anna's words which enabled him each day to find something for which to thank God. As we gather around our Thanksgiving tables and pause to give thanks, we'd also be wise to consider the lesson Oursler learned from a poor, hard working Afro-American woman who found something each day for which to give thanks. Your Pastor and friend, Jim | 
