A niece, her husband, my parents, and 3 dogs. That’s it. The whole of the Thanksgiving gathering. So if you count the fur babies, and who wouldn’t, we have 8.
Missing my kids, my sister, the preacher, and his extended fam. (He went to them, I stayed with mine). It’s easy to feel discouraged and a bit teary. We are told not to gather. Not to hug. To social distance. Eat outside. Wear a mask. And the losses weigh heavy.
For the first time in modern history, mankind as a whole experiences global loss—San Francisco to Siberia and Dallas to Dublin. Loneliness, isolation, loss of freedom, loss of jobs, loss of health, and loss of life pervade.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas, we are entering the “most wonderful time of year.” But somehow I don’t feel like singing in light of the holiday recommendations we have come to despise:
—A super small gathering of pre-tested/safe people. Just love a swab test stuck up my nose with that twist and grind action don’t you?
—Eat outside. We southerners can dine, and if need be, hold an umbrella at the same time right? But what of my friends up north with a foot of snow? Guess they will be carving the turkey and looking like an abominable snowman in hat and gloves while trying to keep the scarf out of the gravy?
—Stay 6’ apart. Of course, we all have huge tables to span the length of the yard so people can spread out right?
—Wear a mask. Which simply means dinner will last three hours because for every bite—lift your mask, then lift your fork, insert food, lower fork, lower your mask, repeat. Sheesh.
But I am stopping the tirade now. I cannot allow myself to wallow any longer so I set the gripes aside and think about the name of the days. Thanks-Giving. Christ-Mas.
But how do we trip a switch to thankfulness, when we can barely wrap our heads around all the crazy of 2020?
We make a choice. Dive deeper into the darkness of despair, or come up for air and look toward the light. For today I choose the light.
So join me during this long holiday weekend:
—Choose one day.
—No work (the paying kind) at least for one day.
—Ban news outlets of any kind. (It’s never good news anyway.)
—No social media. (If you can’t cut the cord on FB for a day, at least refuse to read anything political, Covid related or that of religious dissension.) Allowed? Smiling babies, puppies and inspiring vistas.
—And take off that apple watch that disrupts every thought and conversation
Instead choose these five Joy boosters:
1. Be solitary and still, breathing the day in deep for five minutes (at least).
2. Read Psalm 100 and meditate on it for five minutes.
3. Write down twenty-five things you are thankful for today.
4. Go for a walk alone with no headphones. Notice the beauty around you. Or if you dwell in the blustery north, find a quiet window or bundle up and venture out.
5. Have a relaxed conversation and laugh.
My thankfulness takeaway from a gathering of four instead of sixteen? I got to have a real convo with my niece and her husband for hours, not minutes. And we didn’t run out of gravy.
So let’s focus on what brings us joy this holiday season.
Leaves of fall color, the smell of rain, sunrise on the lake, reflections on it’s mirrored surface, hazelnut hot chocolate, pumpkins, apple pie, candy canes, gingerbread houses, decorated cookies, kitchen smells, homemade bread, (wow I have a lot of food-related…), the antique turkey-shaped gravy bowl, Macy’s day parade, Christmas movies, the Psalms, time with loved ones, pajamas till noon, the warm sun on my back, and cardinals at the bird feeder.
And bask in the knowledge that God has 2020 under control. There is still so much to be thankful for.
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and
his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Psalm 100
I’d love to know a few of the things you are thankful for.