On a day when we normally would have been surrounded by kids and grands, Dan and I packed our Thanksgiving feast into the wilderness and spread it out on a tablecloth overlooking a snowy landscape.
Chai tea, turkey sandwiches, potatoes and gravy, and veggies never tasted better.
Oh, and pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie never tasted better.
There on the side of a mountain, Dan and I talked about the things we’re most grateful for.
Honestly, 2020 has been an epic year for us in more ways than one. (This is not to discount the hardships COVID-19 has inflicted upon so many people—physically, mentally/emotionally, and financially.)
I discovered a meme the other day: “Not everything is cancelled …” and then it listed a few not-cancelled things, like, love, and reading, and naps, and kindness, and hope. (Although one friend wrote: “My kids have cancelled my naps for about 6 years and counting.”)
Which made me think of other things that COVID hasn’t been able to cancel for Dan and me on this Thanksgiving Day …
Our ability to walk in oversized shoes on snow is not cancelled.
Our Thanksgiving feast—and our tastebuds—are not cancelled.
The fresh air is not cancelled.
FaceTime calls from family members are not cancelled.
Our conversations are not cancelled.
Dan’s life—even with recently-detected cancer—is not cancelled.
“Our marriage license was not cancelled!” chimed in my husband.
“Christmas movies are not cancelled!” my sister-in-law Cheryl contributed earlier in the day.
It’s human nature, isn’t it, to give more weight to our hard places—to the impossibilities and heartaches and struggles. To allow them to take up large amounts of space.
It’s not human nature to speak gratitude and thanksgiving to God for all the taken-for-granted blessings that make up our everyday lives.
This admonition from Psalm 100:
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
“Negative things come up front more easily,” my very wise husband Dan noted. “But even in challenging times, we can find positive things to give thanks for.”
Agree.
One of the best quotes for 2020:
This is not the year to get everything you want. This is the year to appreciate everything you have.
Brenda
“This is not the year to get everything you want. This is the year to appreciate everything you have.” No truer words!
So grateful for your blog, your happiness and your perspective!! Happy Thanksgiving with the emphasis on “thanksgiving, rejoicing and living in this moment.” Amen. 🙂
Marlys Johnson
What a wonderful Thanksgiving greeting with the emphasis on “thanksgiving, rejoicing and living in this moment”! Thank you, Brenda.
Larry Hess
I am thankful that Marlys and Dan found one another and were not afraid to continue living and enjoying life to the fullest. The memories – round em up and continue living them with gusto!
Marlys Johnson
This is the key for all of us, isn’t it Larry? “… not afraid to continue living and enjoying life to the fullest.” Thank you!
Nancy Darst
Thanks for the reminder, Marlys. There is always something to be thankful for! What a wonderful way to spend the day. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Dan!
Marlys Johnson
Well said, Nancy. At a time when my first husband was dying, my sister-in-law sent a wooden plaque with these words (similar to yours): “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” It’s been one of my favorite reminders all these years.
Pam Older
Thought provoking Marlys,thanks for the wisdom. Glad you had a nice we
Marlys Johnson
Thank you for your kind words, Pam. Blessings to you during this holy season.
Rita Weick
I love the quote at the end of your piece. How true! Now- just where were you snowshoeing? The snow looks perfect!
Marlys Johnson
Rita – We snow-shoed up to Nordeen Shelter off the Swampy Lakes trail … a bluebird day!
Peter Howe
Once again you took us into your wonderful unspoiled Cascades, making negative into positive. Strangely, I’ve found I’m finding things that really I don’t need any more and finding someone or somewhere for ‘that thing’ to go, suddenly changes how they and I feel. Such small things are often so meaningful. A new Christmas song is soon to be let loose..’On a beautiful night’ (a nativity song), with Zoom gig sessions, so who knows what will be awaiting this strange Christmas. Loved your message, thinking of you and those walks you two go on. God Bless, Bx P & family.
Marlys Johnson
So true, Peter, that the more we let go of things (and the more ‘homes’ we find for the things we thought we needed), the free-er we find ourselves.
Blessings to you in your song writing and Zoom gig sessions!