Thanksgiving Plans

I don’t know about you but my family has started the multi person text thread making plans for Thanksgiving. This is always a busy season for us because we begin our birthday season for the year. My son who lives on the east coast comes back to Tulsa for this one week. It is a wonderful time. This year we will be celebrating him turning thirty years old while he is present with us in person- rather than just shipping him gifts. (My baby turning thirty is making me feel old.) Our planning is contingent on if my nephews are playing in either a lacrosse or soccer tournament. We also have to share my grandkids with their other parents so we juggle that as well. My parents and aunt are unable to travel very far so that is always a factor. My dad actually suggested that we all eat out somewhere this year which caused some shock from the women. But regardless of the craziness of finding a time to sit around table together, this is my favorite holiday. I love that we gather and give thanks. It is simple and nourishing and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

We have some holiday traditions like holding hands in a circle to say the blessing. We usually gather for soup and board games on the night before. There is no pressure of gifts or wrapping or decorating. We typically go outside for a family touch football game. On Friday we usually all go to the movies together and just enjoy being all in the same space. Being together is the gift that we celebrate along with way too much food.

In the Bible, thanksgiving is given when people come to the temple and offer God the first fruits of their labor. It is given when they leave a portion of every field unharvested so that the poor can come find food. David has songs of thanksgiving that we read. Often the scriptures tell us to shout or sing songs of Thanksgiving.

We have so much to be thankful for and so often we forget to be appreciative. We worry so much about what might be, that often we forget to be fully present for what truly is. Sometimes we covet and compare without giving thought to how blessed we are. As we head into the season of thanksgiving, I encourage you to tell people how much they mean to you. Maybe write Thanksgiving cards this year? Let your soul rejoice in simple things like sunshine warming your skin or reading a book to a little one. Allow yourself to be fully present for the ones that you love. Call people you miss. Take a prayer walk. This soul tending will bring joy for you and those you spend time with. Don’t let the details steal this joy.

With shouts of thanksgiving,