Gratitude Day #26
Today I am grateful for Thanksgiving.
It has never been Turkey Day, or Gobble Day, or anything else. To me, it's Thanksgiving - my most favorite holiday of the entire year. To me, it unites all of the holidays for the year into one - the gratitude I feel for Christmas and Easter, for military and country holidays, for our own birthdays and those of the ones we love.
The entire month causes me to pause and reflect on the great blessings that have been and are part of my life. I could go on posting one each day for the rest of my life and never run out of things to be grateful for.
In times past, Kerry and I drove through the countryside to the shores of Lake Erie to gather at my sister's house. I would often pause my reading and looked around, grateful for the dairy farmers who never get a break, for the sheriffs, police officers and medical workers who would be on hand if we had an accident, for the men and women in our military who are missing their families at home to serve our country.
I reflected back on two meaningful Thanksgivings from years ago that came into my memory today. The first was when son Peter was living in Florida, and was purposely not staying in contact with us. We received word that things were not good with him; so Kerry and I made the decision to drive to the Fort Lauderdale area. We prayed fervently and felt good about our decision, having no idea of what would happen.
We met friend Linda Clark and her two daughters Lisa and Debbie Lupinacci. After searching in areas I would personally never want to return to, she thought she just might know where to find him. She gave us directions, and Kerry and I left.
It was basically a needle park. We sat in our car and looked around nervously for quite awhile, and then...I saw him. I told Kerry to look in a certain direction, and when he did he asked me if I was sure it was him.
Never ask a mom that question.
I jumped out to run toward my gaunt, vacant-eyed, malnourished, stringy-haired, dirty son, calling out his name. He turned with a look of shock on his face. I embraced him, and felt Kerry's arms go around the two of us.
Peter looked at me, and quietly said, "Mom, I'm hungry."
Get in the car and let's go!
We drove back to Linda Clark's apartment, where he ate like he was famished. He likely was. He just could not stop wolfing down that food.
We sat and talked, and asked if he wanted to come home. We made it very clear that there would be no illegal drugs in our home, and that there would be no 1-2-3 chances, then you're out. There would be one chance. I will not go to jail because of the choices of another. He would have until 4:00 pm the next day, for we had to begin our return trip to Ohio.
He was honest, and said he didn't know if he could make that promise, and we respected that. We supplied him with plenty of food, but not one bit of cash. We had already learned that lesson.
Right up until the last few moments, he still could have chosen to come, but in the end he remained in Florida.
Kerry and I felt assurance in our prayer that we would find him, not even beginning to know how it would happen. That unfamiliar metropolitan city is big. But, we had time with our son, and were so grateful that we did.
The second memorable Thanksgiving took place with son Jordan as he served in the military. He was station in Norfolk, VA and had invited us to come to him for the holiday. He arranged for us to stay in very nice housing on base, so off we went.
What a beautiful and tender Thanksgiving it was. Our military members are taken care of quite well, for when we went to enjoy our dinner and all of the fixin's, I stood there with my mouth agape! We haven't seen that amount of food anywhere before! And, it was all good and piping hot, and much of it had been brought in by the local community. It was positively delicious. I was grateful for the good care that was given to our military. I had also flown to be with him when he had surgery, and was aware of that same good care.
So, on this cold, crisp, clear Thanksgiving Day, I am grateful for:
My family. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that means more to me than my family. We travel many miles each year to see them, and are grateful that were able to, and that they want us to come.
My home. As I mentioned in a previous post, I live in the most beautiful home in America, and have the most beautiful house.
My country. Oh, my gosh, do I ever love my country. We've survived so many tragedies, and have always recovered. I hope we always can.
My church. I don't get real preachy on FB, but today is a day for me to recognize the goodness that being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been for me. It has brought me to being more Christlike than if I had ever made the effort on my own.
My God. My Eternal Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I have a personal relationship with each of them. When the time comes that I am able to meet them face to face, I hope and pray that I will be able to look upon their face. I hope and pray that I will want to.
So, on this beautiful Thanksgiving evening when my belly and my heart are full, I quietly reflect on my having lived a very good and rich life. There have been bumps along the road, which I prayed would go away.
And, they didn't.
But, my back was made stronger.
I have been writing my gratitude posts for a number of years now, and perhaps they are a bit cheesy. Perhaps they are the same old same old.
Perhaps they are meant for Peggy to remember.
Those of you who have posted in the #givethanks initiative have touched me to my core. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have been invited to show our gratitude to God and perhaps help to heal the world with more positivity. I have even noticed posts from people not of our faith! I thank you, for I know that many of you have had a terrible year. Yet you dug deep and still found the most important things to be thankful for.
PS...I thank you for the times you have asked to be remembered in prayer. Some have been public. Most have been private. And, I have been honored.
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