Giving Thanks

My Kids: Daniel, Rachel & Jake (Thanksgiving 2013)

My Kids: Daniel, Rachel & Jake (Thanksgiving 2013)

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, my number one favorite holiday.  I love the food, the gathering of family, the fall season, the fact that it’s a secular holiday, all of it.  The week before our actual family celebration is BUSY … I drag out the toys and games and extra blow up mattresses for the grandkids, make my shopping list, and create my cooking schedule. But I always find time to reflect on the past year.

“Gratitude” is mentioned daily-on the radio, in person, in yoga class…  I am thankful every single day of my life, consciously thankful of large and small things.  At my age I am always aware that there are a finite number of Thanksgiving holidays!

I feel thankful for the family who surrounded me the first seventeen years of my life.  My childhood had a huge impact and contributed to my feelings of worthiness, security and deep happiness.  When my parents would say prayers with me before bedtime, I would always repeat the words “God bless Mommy and Daddy, Tim, Sue, Kay and Kal, all of whom we dearly love…and all my aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, and the memory of my grandparents and Uncle Lou and Uncle Ike.”  I was reared with this value system — that we as family love each other unconditionally, we are all there to support each other and that we continue to honor the memory of those relatives and friends no longer with us.  I still  feel this way about  my immediate family, siblings, nieces, nephews, and  other relatives through birth or through marriage.  My family is precious to me!

Kal's Cabin Hat  - designed by kids for Thanksgiving 2013 - turkey and menorah represent Thanksgiving & Hannukah

Kal’s Cabin Hat – designed by kids for Thanksgiving 2013 – turkey and menorah represent Thanksgiving & Hannukah

I feel thankful for my friends: old, young, longtime, newish, in all sizes, shapes and colors.

I feel thankful for my core values.  I know that for me material things don’t come close to the importance of relationships and experiences.

I feel thankful for my good health, for leaves that turn colors, rain that makes the air feel so clean, fresh food, the roof over my head, blue skies, grey skies, the ocean.  I say out loud, nearly every day and usually multiple times a day to anyone who will listen to me how thankful I am and how much I am in awe of people and nature.

I hope for all of you that you can be grateful for many many things that touch your lives,  and that we all remember why we gather with friends and relatives this year.  Never lose sight of that fact that so many people in the world have so much less.

I wish for all of you a happy, healthy Thanksgiving 2014!

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2 Responses to Giving Thanks

  1. Sandy says:

    Muffy, I was just thinking about bedtime prayers the other day. We used to say them also, including the same phrases you’ve quoted. Seems like a great tradition, doesn’t it? Hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving – from my family to yours!

    • Marilyn says:

      Maybe the script was a Sioux City special? We had an even better 2014 holiday with everyone.much love to you, your fan and of course a special kiss for your Dad!

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