On this Thanksgiving Eve, as I write and reflect on the meaning of this national holiday, a sense of calm washes over me. Thanksgiving has always been enjoyable. A few days off of school or work. A delicious feast to warm my belly. And the annual Texas A&M vs. UT football game (which will, sadly, be played for the 118th and final time this Thanksgiving.)
Yet, this Thanksgiving, it’s not about the vacation time, or yummy food, or a tradition-filled sports event. This Thanksgiving, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for all of the many blessings in my life. I am grateful for family and friends; health and healing.
Our family celebrated a new blessing recently. We celebrated the fact that Papi (Spanish for “daddy”) doesn’t have to travel anymore!
The Celebration Cake
It might be worth mentioning that the reason he doesn’t have to travel is that he has been laid off. These things in life happen and we decided that we’d be much happier if we chose to Welcome the Layoff! How very grateful we are to have him home each night.
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
~Melody Beattie
Today, may you see the blessings which exist all around you. May you be filled with more gratitude than your heart can hold.
~Michelle xoxo
