It’s Thanksgiving Day. It’s a day of giving thanks for all that we are and all that we have.
This year’s Thanksgiving will be a little different. There will just be 3 of us today. We are bringing food to my 93 years old mother-in-law. My brother usually joins us for this holiday but this year we are being socially distant. My family and I are a little more out in the world than he. I definitely don’t want to have to make a phone call to him letting him know he needs to get tested because he came to my home. My son is quarantining because one of his roommates tested positive.
This year has been hard. It’s been a year of uncertainty and, for many, a year of sorrow. It’s hard to know what say after that. So many have lost so much.
But that is when we need to dig deep and think about what we are thankful for. And then we need to keep those thoughts front and center in our minds and hearts. So, I will start that by beginning a list of things I’m thankful for today.
- I’m thankful I will be spending a quiet day with my husband and daughter.
- While I’m sad not to see my son today, I’m thankful he isn’t sick – he is just staying home to keep us safe.
- I’m thankful my dog and cat get along and sit at my feet while I write.
- I’m thankful that you can really mess up your pie crust but that same pie can look really tasty!
- I’m thankful my husband is doing a lot of today’s cooking.
For those who are experiencing the loss of a loved one, lost income or heartbreak, my heart reaches out and my prayers are with you. If you just need to get through the day, you are doing your best. It’s enough.
But for most of us this Thanksgiving is just different. No matter what life throws at us we always have the choice to try to find meaning from our experiences and to be thankful for what remains.
