"Today was supposed to be light and easy."
Thanksgiving. I often picture the Norman Rockwell paintings of a dad setting the turkey down in front of his family. Everyone at the table is happy. They all are dressed well and look like the meal they are about to share will only reflect the perfect lives they are already sharing. It looks effortless.
That picture doesn't look like my Thanksgiving. There will be turkey (and ham and spaghetti and enough food to feed a small army) and the family will have that wonderful moment when we are all around the table with our plates piled high with food and we pray and thank God for our many blessings. Where we stray from the picture is the before and after.
It takes a massive effort to do Thanksgiving. There are a minimum of three stores just to get the one meal. There are plans and conversations about menu, arrangements, timing etc. there is cleaning of dishes, kitchen, table, dining room, kids toys around the house since parents told them to go play while we clean and they went and made a mess.
All that would be enough without the added stress of relationships and trying to keep the family together in love. You know what I am talking about because you experience it too. It can be hard to keep it together and the ones closest to you can hurt you the most. You endure it though because they are family.
If you look at your Thanksgiving table and it looks more like the battle scenes from Braveheart than the Norman Rockwell paintings it is okay. I would venture to say that most of us have felt like that or do feel like that. You are not alone.
Keep some things in mind as you prepare to be with family: 1) They are your family. 2) God loves them and you can let His love work through you. 3) it is worth it in the end.
It may mean you have to bite your tongue while biting into that turkey. You might have to work alone to clean because no one is picking up your hints at needing some help while they talk and laugh. Love and family are worth it all.
Let's count our blessings and be grateful we have Jesus and that we have each other.
What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory? What are you thankful for?
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