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Thanks-Giving—or is it?
A Focus On The Family
by Patty Liston
One would never know that Thanksgiving is yet to arrive from the decorations festooning our department stores. Mechanical Santa’s shake to the music of “Jingle Bells”, green garlands embedded with twinkle lights snake through the aisles, cranberry wreaths, ornaments and wrapping paper mix themselves on shelves.
Just try to find a pilgrim, pumpkin, or cornucopia. Is it just me or do you too feel the greeting of “Happy Thanks-Giving” being drowned out earlier and earlier by “Ho-Ho-Ho”, and “Now On Sale, In Time For Christmas!”
We love Christmas. We love the carols, and decorating pine scented Christmas trees, hot cocoa on a snowy night, the glimmering wonder in the eyes of a little child as they approach Santa. But we cannot help but wonder what happens when we move too quickly from “Trick or Treat” to “Here is my Christmas list”. There is an uncomfortable “Missing” sign that stakes itself on the terrain of our unconscious mind.
May we suggest that what is “Missing” is a moment to breathe—to step back and spend a few moments taking a Gratitude Inventory.
Begin by writing down your thoughts and sharing them with your loved ones. Some other suggestions may be to write a “Thank You” card. You’ll know who to send it to.
Make a phone call. Bake two loaves of your favorite bread and share one with someone who has been kind to you, or suffered a loss that will make this holiday particularly difficult.
Invite a senior citizen to share your meal. Look for the unexpected moments that will take your breath away, cause you to laugh out loud, or make a memory you will be grateful for next year. Say “Thank you”, then say it again.
Bring out your golden, roasted turkey, stuffed with your mom’s corn bread dressing, the mashed potatoes peaked Himalayan high, the wobbly orange jello. But remember to breathe. This is Thanks-Giving. Christmas will come soon enough.
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