thanksgiving reflections

  Happy Thanksgiving friends! I hope that each of you (for my readers in America) have a wonderful Thanksgiving- however you are celebrating it. 

A few months ago I read the following quote by Kalya Stoecklin who wrote "Rebuilding Beautiful" that said the following: 

"Look for things that can weave new joy into the tapestry of your story... even in the most horrific, or pain-filled circumstance we can partner with His love to create a life that's meaningful, beautiful, and good."

Grief is something that I am finding weaves it way into the days that are not only the oridinary but in the "big" ones because there has been so much abundant love. Looking for joy in the story has been one of the greatest gifts I have learned this fall.

Last Monday at my work I was in a group setting and we were asked to share a Thanksgiving tradition and I ended up sharing one from many years ago... when life seemed a bit simpler, when the family felt "intact and whole" with my hero father and my precious grandmother were still here with us...before "all the stuff"... simple traditions that in reality had nothing to do with "thanksgiving" and more to do with silly laughter that came about over the years. After I shared I was quiet as others talked excitedly about their plans and the special foods and traditions that they have and a thought crossed my mind... "will it ever be like that again"? Not the laughter (my mom and sis and I) have fought hard for that over the past six years... but the silly traditions that mean so much to my heart... and over this last year specifically I have come to realize it would- different, but the current and the future can blend the old while mixing new traditions. 

And so for the past 10 days when asked what Thanksgiving plans I have I didn't go back to the past... I instead quietly listened to all of the exciting plans that people had and then shared the beautiful present of some new things we are doing. Yesterday my mom and I started a completely new tradition of something and as we looked at each other we smiled, had some tears, and then joy at starting a different type of Thanksgiving then we used to have. We both also have commented at how it opened our eyes to so many people around us who are hurting and struggling through this Thanksgiving (and holiday season). It has truly made us pause to step outside of ourselves and look to others. 

Thank you for continuing to make this such a beautiful community and space for more than a 12 years. This Thanksgiving I am so grateful for each of you, and the way that this space has provided a way to connect over the stories that we are walking. I pray that today and throughout this season you feel seen and enveloped in love.