Thanksgiving is a WONDERFUL time of year. It is also a busy time of year. Cooking and cleaning if you’re hosting; cooking and packing if you’re traveling.
Now that I’m old enough to have an AARP card, my sense of duty at holidays is less intense. There is the scalloped corn recipe that MUST be put into Grandma’s ceramic corn dish. A photo that will become our Christmas card WILL be taken in front of the fireplace.
But, maybe not this year.
Let’s throw caution to the wind and take the family photo down by the creek near the willow tree. And, heresy of heresy: Let’s use paper plates instead of china.
As I was rolling out the dough to make the annual turkey cookies, a question began to surface in my heart. What is my main focus to be this Thanksgiving? Why is it so important to create these wonderful traditions? What is Thanksgiving all about, Charlie Brown?
The answer was on the well-floured counter right in front of me. Making cookies is something I look forward to each year because I ‘need’ 9 little helpers to slather them in chocolate frosting. My heart was beginning to understand.
Making cookies? Yes, but it’s MAKING MEMORIES that will remain long after the last crumb disappears from the mouse cookie jar. I commit to embracing each moment that will marvelously transform into a memory once everyone returns home on Sunday. Now my spirit feels at rest and is filled with peace. I’m ready for Thanksgiving.
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Heard later that evening: “Honey, could you please take your mom’s corn dish out of the cupboard for me? Be careful; we don’t want to put another scratch in it!” There are holiday memories passed on to us by our parents that are worthy of preservation. Those we keep and cherish! Happy Thanksgiving and God bless us everyone! 🙂
settingmyhearttohonorhim 