Pause for a moment and give thanks

Thanksgiving is almost here. Should we have ham or turkey? Oyster dressing or plain? Everything the same as last year or something different? Is Aunt Sally able to drive or does someone have to pick her up? Is Uncle Whosit going to bring his weird girlfriend? Should we talk about the ones who have passed on or concentrate on the living? There are so many decisions to make.

In addition to choosing the menu and guests, there is a house to clean from top to bottom. Closing off the spare room won’t work as someone is bound to pry open the door to discover the mess. Extra chairs are found and set out. Do we have enough dishes or should we use paper plates for the children? The multitude of choices can be overwhelming. Should we avoid the whole thing and go to someone else’s house for the holiday?

In the midst of all the hurrying and scurrying we often forget the meaning behind the holiday. After all, it isn’t called stuff yourself until you can’t move day or family reunion day. It is called Thanksgiving. Thanks. Giving.

Sure, many, if not most, Thanksgiving feasts begin with a prayer of thanks, but that’s about it. We tend to take for granted the blessings we have been given.

 A few years ago we had Thanksgiving with my daughter’s in-laws. Their tradition was to gather everybody in attendance and have everyone tell what they were thankful for. Most people were deathly afraid of public speaking, even among family. Their voices quivered as they offered their answers. The majority of them said they were thankful for family. Dear, sweet grandson Nicholas said he was thankful for ships. At least he was original.

We are constantly inundated with advertising that tells us that we need some item or other to be happy. The message is that we never have enough. There is always something more that we need. We forget that there are many who have far less than we do.

When I was a smart mouthed teenager and my brothers were young we lived in a four-room house. We had an outhouse and a coal stove. We were happy and we were blessed. We were overjoyed to be able to live the life we lived.

Today, all three of us have indoor plumbing. Having lived without it, we are immensely grateful that we don’t have to go out in the rain or snow to go to the bathroom. Today my brother, Michael, and his wife are especially thankful for indoor plumbing as they are both battling the flu. I, on the other hand, am grateful for the flu shot that left my arm sore for three days. I wouldn’t trade places with Michael for anything.

The point is, that no matter how bad you have it, no matter how much you ache, no matter how often life has kicked you in the teeth, somebody has it worse. None of us actually needs a fraction of the things we want. We certainly don’t need more stuff in order to be happy.

 We don’t need things to be blessed. The sun may hide behind a cloud but it is always there and will be for the foreseeable future. Although tomorrow is promised to no one, tomorrow always comes. And it will bring a new basketful of blessings.

Along with blessings comes the opportunity to give thanks. The act of giving thanks is a way to recognize that life is good. I have noticed that the more I silently give thanks the more reasons I have to be thankful. On this Thanksgiving holiday, stop for a moment and give thanks for all that you have been given. I know I will.