Thanksgiving will not be measured by a perfect turkey or kids who get along and sample all the new food with a smile on their face. Thanksgiving will not be measured by the timing of the food and if the kitchen is spotless at the end of the night. Thanksgiving will be measured by my ability and choosing to find beauty and gratitude in the midst of it all. In the midst of the mountain of dishes, grease stained clothes, picky eating, overcooked food, spills, and complaints, I can give thanks. Giving thanks doesn’t wait for the right circumstances. Giving thanks doesn’t wait for the baby to sleep through the night or the toddler to grow out of his tantrums. Giving thanks doesn’t wait for the kids to get along, the project to be done, the workday to be finished. Giving thanks doesn’t wait for things to go back to normal. Giving thanks doesn’t wait until you have more time. Giving thanks doesn’t wait until the kids get older or things get easier. Giving thanks doesn’t wait until the kids get more independent or can clean their rooms on their own. We can give thanks in the sleepless night. We can give thanks when things don’t make sense. We can give thanks when we are spent, exhausted, overwhelmed, and broke. We can give thanks when we are worried, sad, and uncertain. We can give thanks when we don’t agree. We can give thanks when the kids don’t listen and don’t get along. We can give thanks when we don’t feel heard. We can give thanks for doing a thankless job. We can give thanks when we don’t feel like being thankful. We can give thanks today and everyday because there will always be something to be grateful for, only if we choose to see it. So rather than be consumed by the details of the Thanksgiving meal, may we be consumed with GIVING THANKS.
This is the day the LORD has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24