# XV: Thanksgiving explained — Verses on Various Occasions

> Chapter companion for Verses on Various Occasions by John Henry Newman.

## What happens

The speaker reflects on God's faithfulness through affliction, tracing blessings from childhood to adulthood, and cherishing the memory of sorrowful seasons as divine love-tokens. He embraces suffering as a means of shaping the will toward truth and renounces worldly wealth and power in favor of hope, love, and faith.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Humility

The speaker embraces affliction as a sweet chastisement and a means of drawing closer to God.

### Faith and Doubt

Faith thrives in the world's shame, and the speaker trusts in God's providence despite hardships.

### Transience and Eternity

The fleeting nature of childhood and blessings is contrasted with eternal love-tokens and divine memory.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who recounts God's providence and personal afflictions.

### Lord

Addressed as the sovereign voice who quickens love and provides blessings and chastisement.

### Christ

Referenced through the spear-pierced side and thorn-encompass'd head as a model of suffering love.

## Key lines

> Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

You have been faithful even in causing me to suffer.

_The opening line establishes the theme of divine faithfulness through affliction._

> Yet, Lord, in memory's fondest place I shrine those seasons sad, When, looking up, I saw Thy face In kind austereness clad.

Yet I treasure in memory those sorrowful times when I saw Your face clothed in kind severity.

_The speaker cherishes past suffering as a manifestation of God's loving discipline._

> Deny me wealth; far, far remove The lure of power or name; Hope thrives in straits, in weakness love, And faith in this world's shame.

Keep wealth and the temptations of power and reputation far from me; hope grows in hardship, love in weakness, and faith in the shame of this world.

_The speaker renounces worldly ambitions, finding spiritual growth in adversity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters/xv-thanksgiving
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters