It seems cliche to write about giving thanks at Thanksgiving. And it is. There are some who find comfort in the nostalgia of the tradition. And it makes others want to hurl their last five meals. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of neutral ground when it comes to holidays and traditions.
There’s something about the traditional elements of the holidays I find comforting. Not that you’d know it by looking at me or hearing me talk. Putting up decorations with the intention of taking them down only a few weeks later makes little sense to me.
My wife and daughter, on the other hand, love the Christmas season and find great joy in decorating for it. They turn up the traditional music, dust off the storage containers, and move furniture to accommodate their new Christmas feng shui designs. Bedrooms, bathrooms, the living room, and the kitchen. Every room bears the effects of their glittered handiwork.
And it’s…
…peaceful
… and comforting
… and a reminder to slow down and take in my surroundings through a different lens.
It’s a reminder to find joy and be thankful in all I do, see, and am a part of.
We have friends who, after a tortuous journey of multiple failed adoption attempts, have welcomed a baby into their family. And I am thankful.
We have relatives who are in the process of a surrogate pregnancy after a long struggle of health conditions left them wondering if children were even a possibility. And I am thankful.
We begin each morning with a family devotion time where we read scripture and pray. Groggy, wide awake, chatty, or irritable we start our day as a family praying God’s hand to be with us and our loved ones.
We have a family business that God has blessed and looks promising going into the new year.
We have family and friends who laugh with us, cry with us, and sit up long nights and early mornings with us as we navigate the medical concerns disrupting our house for the past nine months.
Through times of frustration, walking unfamiliar paths, and staring into the darkness of the unknown we continue to learn lessons of perseverance and faith.
We experience grace, peace, mercy, joy, and love through hugs, tears, smiles, winks, and laughter.
In all of this we live life as any other family would. We hold each other tight and refuse to let go. We weather every storm and celebrate every victory large or small. We are comforted when one is weak and the other has strength to believe.
These aren’t things that are extraordinary. These are the things you do when life happens. It’s deep inside of you. It’s a core reaction when you are surrounded by people you love and who love you. It’s normal. And I am thankful for normal.