Thanksgiving

I was walking through the gardens yesterday, meandering really, when thoughts of those who have gone before us came to mind. The holidays are before us, and with them come memories of years past, of faces gathered around a table, of traditions upheld for generations.

No one really remembers why things were even done ‘that’ way, but they keep doing the ‘things’, because that’s how mama did it; passed from hand to hand.

Every year, Grandma Barbara sent a card inviting us to Thanksgiving dinner. It was a given that the celebration was held at her house. She put together a dinner, seemingly without effort, and there were usually two or three added souls in need of a ‘family’. Everyone was welcomed with open arms. Often, I sent my family without me as I held down the fort at the hospital. When I wasn’t working, I would arrive a bit early to help, only to be told to get something to drink and go sit down. Everything was always ready, grandpa already carving the bird and hors doerves on the table in front of ‘the game’. I could take a breath of rest at Grandma’s table.

My heart aches to miss those blessed faces.

My mom and dad celebrated with such elegance at every holiday. Beautifully set table with the polished silver at every place. The turkey was always before my father’s place and was carved piece by piece for each plate after we had said a blessing. I miss this genteel, and timeless style. The table was occupied for hours, it seemed, as we shared life and food and drink. It nourished my soul as a young girl, and later too, as an adult.

There’s a catch in my heart at the missing faces from our celebrations. Our parents and brothers and cousins and aunts and uncles.

Even as I step slowly through these sweet memories, I am instantly reminded that this is how life unfurls.

Just a surely as those faces are gone, the new little faces with eager eyes and willing hearts are gathered at our tables. Where once were age lines and silver tresses, now are pink cheeks and fresh bouncy curls. Tiny nursing babes and robust young teens delight our hearts now, even as we yearn for those dear old loves.

Just as surely as I linger over those gone before, these young ones will linger over me in the years ahead. It is a beautiful legacy that we pass on this gathering together of ourselves to the next generation, who will then carry it forward to theirs.

I believe we have been instructed to do just this.

Bless all of you as you celebrate together with friends and family. Delight in the little moments together. Share in the rolling of dough and the tasting of flavor. Encourage one another. Be restored and lifted up. Let love dwell richly in your homes. Then, let it flow out into the streets all around you.

Much Love, Betsy

” Encourage one another and build up one another, just as you are also doing.” -1 Thessalonians 5:11