"To make bread or love, to dig in the earth, to feed an
animal or cook for a stranger - these activities require no extensive
commentary, no lucid theology. All they require is someone willing to bend,
reach, chop, stir. Most of these tasks are so full of pleasure that there is no
need to complicate things by calling them holy. And yet these are the same
activities that change lives, sometimes all at once and sometimes more slowly,
the way dripping water changes stone. In a world where faith is often construed
as a way of thinking, bodily practices remind the willing that faith is a way
of life".
~ Barbara Brown Taylor
I love Thanksgiving! It is my most favorite time of the
year, I love the smells, the decorations, the dishes, the chopping, the food,
the feeling off fullness, and the family and friends that fill my kitchen or
the kitchens of others. This year our thanksgiving was spread out among many
days. And, it was wonderful!
About thanks. Y’all know that I am incredibly thankful! Hopefully,
my children will know that we are very grateful for the lives that we have been
given. Whether it be from the cloth banner that hangs in the entryway of our
kitchen, from the many thank-you’s that we say throughout their childhood. Our
thanks for not only the good food, but for a safe home, our health, well- trained
doctors, awesome friends, and cool toys. The things that I just mentioned are
important, believe me! But, I want my children to be able to rattle those
things off just as easy as they can say “I love you”- to me that is most
important. Not just once a year.
Hopefully, our reasons to be grateful, wont fade through the years.
This year we talked about the things that we were grateful
for- which ranged from those less original, however still very important things
such as houses, schooling, family. However, there were also the other “things”
to be grateful for such as leukemia, Be
The Match- for providing that special bone marrow donor… things that changed
our lives forever. Giving thanks isn’t the best part about Thanksgiving.
The best things come when no ones really watching. It’s when
the kitchen is pure chaos, dishes are being removed from the oven and being
hot-padded to the serving table, the families huddled on the couch
listening and watching he roaring football game, and the laughter
heard around the room. That’s the good stuff! That is what makes me want to grab
the kids, and tell them that THIS… is Thanksgiving! This right here, is being
thankful!
Last year I learned so many important things. I think that I
have tried to convey many of those throughout the last year. But, one thing
that I learned was that the true meaning of gratitude arrives on its own. I
just hope that my children truly get it! I hope that they are reminded that
there are so many countries in the world that have hungry people and lack
clothing to cover their backs, and that there are some people in our county
that have the same misfortunes. However, there are also people who live near us,
in our little town, that also have the same problems… sometimes we fail to
recognize it. Because, there things don’t happen to the people that we know-
right?
This year, our family hosted a Thanksgiving dinner at our
house for my side of the family. Little did my children know, there was a
homeless man who sat at our table. You would have never known, and they sure
didn’t recognize it either. He was a friend of my uncle, who has just had some
tough times. He, was very thankful for the meal put before him and the
wholesome welcome that he had given him at our house. That’s what it is about!
At our house, you don’t have to receive an invite to show up. And, we sure
aren’t going to turn anyone away.
Being able to provide for others, is one of the best
feelings in the world. So yes, I am very
thankful tonight. Thankful that I have a heart that remains thankful for the
big things! The things that we are given are gifts… we don’t deserve anything
given to us! I hope that we are reminded that we should be thankful all year
long- not just one night.
My goals for the next few weeks: One- completing my 3rd
semester of nursing school. immediately after December 13th- I plan
on focusing on simplicity because, usually I tend to oscillate between
challenging myself to be just like I used to be (decorating up my entire house,
planning the entire holiday season all December long…) and wanting to curl up
on the sofa and do absolutely nothing. This season, the sofa side is winning!
Happy November y’all! XOXO Kristin
