It’s that time of year again when we gather with family and friends over a big feast and give thanks for our many blessings. Of course, we all give thanks every day all year as the occasion arises as in “OMG, thanks so much for this gorgeous gift,” or “We are all so thankful that mom pulled through the surgery,” or “Thanks so much for the lift to work.” I think it is in our human nature to give thanks for anything that blesses our life. We Episcopalians say “Thanks be to God” on a regular basis.
However, on THE day that we know as Thanksgiving, I wonder why there are so many things for which I am not thankful. Like the hours spent making stuffing for that poor bird we consume each year. I looked at all those recipes that call for me to take some stale bread and cut it up into ½ inch cubes and make sixteen cups of them! Then the four cups of celery to be diced, the onions to be minced, the nuts to be chopped, etc. etc. etc. Four hours later I’m exhausted and we haven’t started peeling the white potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, or remembered to baste the turkey every twenty minutes for all day. Not to mention making the three traditional pies: pumpkin, apple, and pecan – or is that pumpkin, mincemeat (never my favorite) and apple, whatever! And, OMG, I forgot about making the cranberry sauce and mashing those potatoes hoping they will be perfect! Yes, there are some things I am not particularly thankful for this day.
BUT – in all this, I am very, very thankful that I have all this food and have all this family to feed and have it served in a nice warm house with a TV to watch the games. I am thankful to be living in a free country where I am not fearful of bombs or tyrants running my country. I am thankful I wake up each morning and take a deep breath of fresh air and a drink of fresh water. There are so many people in the world who don’t have these luxuries. Yes, I am very thankful. I hope you are too if you also enjoy such luxury and, I also hope that all of us will remember those in need and be thankful we can help.
Happy Turkey Day to all! Don’t eat too much!