For what are you thankful today? One of my dear friends practices a grace with her family that is simply a sharing of gratitudes, sometimes significant gratitudes, sometimes small or mundane. As we approach Thanksgiving (tomorrow!), I thought I'd share some of my gratitudes and perhaps they may get you thinking about yours:
the particular blue of the Colorado sky this time of year;
the fun designs you can make with cool whip on pie;
extra pleases, thank yous, and smiles in grocery store lines;
children whose names I didn't know on Sunday morning;
music and the way my body wants to dance without me noticing;
the reflection of Christmas lights on Lake Loveland;
the elk herd that lives in town;
turkeys walking through my yard;
neighbors whose names I know;
snuggles with my son;
snuggles with my kitties;
shared hopes and fears, laughter and tears;
the power of telling the truth;
generosity that catches me by surprise;
shared tables that always seem to have room for one more chair;
loaves and fishes;
the words of the prophet Isaiah: "Be strong! Do not fear!"
silliness, play, and laughter that makes my tummy hurt;
movement;
the clouds;
snow on the mountains;
chosen family and given family;
the courage and strength that we get to share with each other;
our church family;
singing together and serving together;
God's love that will find and claim us no matter what we have done, no matter how we feel, no matter what we believe, not matter who we are or where we are on life's journey.
We have so much to be thankful for. This Thanksgiving, I am also holding close those who are lonely, dealing with difficult diagnoses or declines in health, those living with financial uncertainty, estrangement, those who are holding hard things for others seeking to love well, those who are in situations that are not good for them or in family situations where they cannot be their full and authentic selves.
I'm holding close our hungry and unhoused neighbors. Those living with addiction. Those living in the midst of violence. Those living in war zones or in the midst of famine.
May our gratitudes and our blessings move us to be more joyfully generous! May we practice thankfulness this week and in the days and weeks to come. May we receive and share SO MUCH LOVE!
For that is who and what God is. Love that blesses and transforms. Love that cannot sit silently while siblings suffer. Love that fills and moves and overflows.We are held in that love!
With so much gratitude and many blessings, Thandiwe
