Last night, the Think Thankfully Facebook page posted an
image that said something to this effect: Gratitude
is the heart’s memory. Followers were encouraged, as they have been each
and every day of this 30 Day Gratitude Challenge, to post what they are most
thankful for. Last night, they were encouraged to reach in and let us know what
was in their heart’s memory. While in the beginning of November people were
commenting like crazy, much like the idea of thinking thankfully for the entire
month, the comments fizzled out and some nights, there were no comments made.
Last night, one of our followers posted this comment on our image: My
hearts memory today is from my childhood. Remembering Thanksgivings with the
whole big family. Both Mom and Dads sides. Grandparents, parents, Aunts,
Uncles, cousins. Loud, crowded, tons of food, tables and chairs everywhere!
Everybody brought something and everybody helped, even the men. Football was on
TV. There was laughter and occasionally an argument. Usually the Mom who hosted
it lost it at some point but then everybody pitched in and it all worked out.
The food was great, the games fun and the fellowship the best! Many have never
experienced this kind of family time. What a shame we don't value this anymore.
I'm so thankful I have these happy memories!
Well, folks, that prompted this morning’s blog posting. I
keep saying that Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving week are my favorite, but I’ve
never really explained why. Much like the follower of our Think Thankfully
Facebook Page, who posted the above comment, THIS is nearly identical to the
picture of Thanksgiving in my head.
Our Thanksgiving meal was ALWAYS at my parents house on
Thanksgiving Day, at least as long as I can remember it was. I can still
remember the scent of the turkey in the oven as I would wake up Thanksgiving
morning. Bright eyed and bushy tailed, I would bounce down the stairs to see if
my mom needed help (which she never really did until the table needed to be
set!). I would find myself a comfy spot on the couch and claim my viewing seat
for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! I always (and still do) LOVE watching
that parade!! People would start to trickle into my parents’ house. Both sets
of grandparents were there and on occasion, aunts and uncles would be there as
well. As more and more food was prepared, the better and better the house would
smell! The ladies would hang out in the kitchen getting everything ready and
the guys would be in the room, ready to change the channel on the TV to
football as soon as Santa made his appearance in the parade!
Once the food was ready and the table set, we would ALL cram
around the large table in my parents’ kitchen (and the kids had to sit at their
own table – story of my childhood!) and prepare ourselves for the consuming of
WAYYYYYYY too much food. But first we would all bow our heads and say a prayer.
Prayer before eating was a very important part of my paternal grandparents’
eating habits. And for good reason. And as the follower of our Facebook page
said it, The food was great, the games fun and the fellowship the best! And
when the food was all done and the table cleaned off, the ladies would do all the
dishes and clean up the kitchen while the guys all found a spot to take their traditional
Thanksgiving nap!
The follower also made reference to the fact that many have
never experienced this kind of family time. Many have never experienced a
Thanksgiving like this. In my 40 years of life, I can only ever remember 2
Thanksgivings that weren’t filled with my family in the manner described above.
One was the year 1995 and my parents and little brother were in Disney with the
football team the second was 2011 when my daughter turned 21 and we spent
Thanksgiving in New Orleans. I still love the way my parents’ house smells on
Thanksgiving (in fact I still ask to sleep over on Thanksgiving Eve so that I
can wake up to the smells again, but mom always says no!). I still love the
fellowship that happens on Thanksgiving Day, although our numbers have dropped
and we are missing three important members of our family these days. I still
love being with my family more than words can ever describe. It boggles my mind
when I ask my students what their Thanksgiving traditions are and they tell me,
“Oh we go out to eat.” or “Nothing special.” Breaks my heart.
I am ever so thankful that Thanksgiving means food, family,
and fellowship to me. I am ever so thankful I grew up in a family that focused
on tradition. I am thankful that I value family time (heck we still get
together to do birthday cake/ice cream when it is someone in the family’s
birthday!! Even my 85 year old
grandma!!).
And this, my friends, is why I love Thanksgiving as much as I do!
Think Thankfully!!!
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