I haven’t posted much lately on my little blog here; I’ve been busy, busy, busy. But Thanksgiving is just around the corner and after much of my own craziness this weekend, I’m taking a much-needed break to put a few words to paper, so to speak.
I love Thanksgiving.
I’m not much of a holiday person in a lot of ways – I hate the hustle and bustle and commercialism of most of the season in general. I don’t like forced cheerfulness or insincere wishes from people who don’t have any time for me the rest of the year.
But I do like the natural warmth that happens when it’s cold outside and there’s food cooking, friends and family laughing, toasts being made and prayers being said, all while the wind whips up it’s fierceness around a cocoon of love and fellowship.
I try hard to be thankful every single day for my health, the health of my family, my friends and my friends’ families. I’m thankful on almost a daily basis – especially with our current economy – that Jim and I have good and steady jobs, a roof over our head, food on our table, dependable vehicles, good health, pets we’ve been blessed to have grace us with their presence, family that love and care about us and a plethora of friends who we’re blessed to know.
But this time of year makes me reflect a little more, focus a little harder. Do I get a little crazy over my Thanksgiving Day dinner? Yes. Does anyone who joins us on Thanksgiving really care that there’s a little dust on top of my refrigerator or a stray dust bunny under my sofa? Probably not. But I get a little crazy nonetheless.
Candles, cloth napkins, colorful glassware, water with fresh lemon slices, tablecloth, appetizers, plenty to drink…It’s the details that I stress over and yet, somehow, every year I pull it off. And every year I ask myself: Is any of this really important? No. What’s important is the joining, the laughter, the love.
Shopping, cleaning, scrubbing, filling, prepping, cooking, washing, lighting…I do it all not just to make it special for me, but to make it special for everyone I love and care about.
Am I alone in this ritual? Not at all. All across America, I am part of the sister and brotherhood that take it upon themselves to bring the people we care about together and make this day extra special.
But really, what makes Thanksgiving Day special is the people we love.
Many blessings and much love to everyone this entire holiday season. If you are not here at my table, you are still in my thoughts and prayers.
