The Real Meaning of Thanksgiving
Here it is, November 19th.....Where has the year gone?
As we call get caught up in the hustle & bustle of the "Black Friday", "Day after Thanksgiving that begin at midnight on Thanksgiving day sales", I hope we can all pause for just a moment & think about the real meaning of thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving.....a day spent Giving Thanks.....
Today, as I thought about my Mom's "Blue Willow" pattern dishes, (service for 18), I began remembering Thanksgivings from years past........
This Day was always one of my favorite days in my family because all my aunts & my Grandma (my Mom's Mom) came together early in the day to bring the food for everyone to eat & do the cooking. The "good dishes" came out, There were table clothes on all the tables. (There were about 24 to 30 of us the last time we did it). We would all eat together, at the same time, (Grandma's rule!!). Lots of things for all the cousins to do!! (and we got to taste a lot!). The tables stretched at Gandma's old house the length of the kitchen, the length of the sunporch and into the living room. Andy everyone had a seat!
My Mom was usually in charge of the pies, usually making at least 6 different kinds. Grandma Craig started the turkey and the ham roasting very, very early in the morning. . My aunts furnished the green beans, the "mystery of the year" jello salad, sweet potatoes, corn, pickled beets, homemade pickles and relish, stuffed celery and many many other treats. Homemade bread was always part of the day, usually baked by my Grandma.
We always paused, before we started the food around the large tables, to say "grace". Our thanks took the form of a simple prayer, one I'm sure that is familiar to many:
"We thank you Lord, for these thy gifts which we are about to receive today. Thank you for our homes, our families and our blessings in the year to come. Amen"
Sometimes we added prayers for a good crop next year, or for our neighbors and servicemen who were away from their homes.
This was simpler, gentler time. One that we all strive to go back to. And at least 1 day a year, we can.
In our busy, hectic world, my hope is that during this special week and holiday season, we all take just a moment to Give Thanks, and pause to reflect on the real meaning of Thanksgiving.
From our house to yours..........Have a very Happy Time of Giving Thnks!!