My favorite holiday is quickly approaching and I could not be more excited! There are so many reasons why I love Thanksgiving; I love seeing family that I have not been with since summer, and I am a huge fan of not having any obligations other than eating food and taking a nap. Another thing I really admire is that everyone celebrates at my house and everyone brings a dish. (My favorite is my Uncle Mark’s sweet potato casserole!). Just like my family has our traditions, I am sure you all have your special traditions as well, along with bringing your own extraordinary recipes to the dinner table.This Thanksgiving I ask you to bring more to your table; Bring more than just something to fill your bellies, bring something to fill hearts and minds.
I know we all want to avoid the whole, “How is school? Did you find a boyfriend/girlfriend yet? Looks like ya gained a little weight there kiddo, are ya sure ya want that extra scoop of stuffing?” conversations, so I advise YOU to start the conversation before the relatives get the chance. Share something with your family that you are thankful for. Whether that be your health, a good exam grade, a new friend, or even just being grateful that they are there with you that day. Bring knowledge to the table; share a fact you have just learned about animals, (I just learned there is such thing as a tarantula hawk wasp and they are super poisonous!) or enlighten them on something that is going on in the world that they may have not heard of yet. Talk about how technology is changing crazy fast and that there is a new coffee shop opening up in town that you cannot wait to try. Share with them a bible verse you just stumbled across, or a piece of advice that your roommate told you. Bring laughter to the table because nothing is more contagious. And let’s face it, watching our baby cousins laugh because you made a silly face is one of the easiest things to do and one of the best feelings. Bring help to the table by offering to clean up someone’s plate or getting someone more to drink. Bring kindness to the table with thoughtful words and compliments while avoiding vulgarity and malice.
One thing to bring with you that you do not necessarily have to share, is a sense of peace. We all have been studying for exams and working on projects and papers due at the end of the semester (which is closer than you think), so for this one day just relax. If you find yourself worrying about a paper rather than listening to your aunt’s funny story about when her and your mom were young and crazy, STOP. Be there with your family, fully. Give them your undivided attention. Worry about school and work on Friday when everyone is in a food coma. Rather than stressing about a diet, eat the second piece of pie (and enjoy it because it is not from the caf at school) and run an extra 20 minutes next week (or never, that’s okay, too!).
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends and food of course! It is a time for sharing wisdom,love and joy. Be thankful for everyone God has blessed you with at your dinner table. Listen to what others have offered to share with you. Look around and see the amazing amount of love that fills the room when the ones we all hold close to our hearts are all together. I recently was told in my theology class that “Happiness does not make us grateful; gratitude makes us happy.” So, eat seconds and thirds and think about how being grateful for what you have in your life might actually make you a little happier during this holiday season.