Gratefulness. Family. Traditions. These are things that most of us think about at Thanksgiving. Many use the Thanksgiving season to show gratitude for the ones they love. I believe for most of us, it is a day, a few days, a week, or even a season where we can pause our life for a moment, put the daily grind aside, and focus on things that we typically must put on the back burner for much of the year. For some, it may be a time of anxiety, fear, or even hurt. It may be the one time of year that you see people who you intentionally avoid 364 days a year. I hope that no matter what your Thanksgiving looks like, that you can find gratefulness in something and focus on that.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 NIV
For me, although there are so many things I love about Thanksgiving, there is one person that I will forever be grateful to during this season. My grandma, my mom’s mother, gave me a gift that will never fade; memories.
My memories as a boy on Thanksgiving Day are so special. Every year, I woke up early to hunt, then we drove 45 minutes to Grandma’s house. Grandma lived in the city in a very small house, with a very small yard where she worked miracles in a very small kitchen. It is a testament of her love for us of how she created such big memories in such a small place. Grandma went above and beyond to make every Thanksgiving special for her grandchildren. She spent weeks gathering ingredients for all our favorite foods. Of course, she made the traditional turkey and ham and every typical Thanksgiving side dish. But she also made everyone’s favorite food. And I mean everyone’s! There might be a lasagna, enchiladas, or any other possible dish sitting next to the turkey and ham if she knew it was one of her grandkid’s favorite meals. She would save boxes in the garage to pack all the leftovers in for us to take home. Mom knew that the trunk of the car always had to be cleaned out to make room for food. At home, we ate Thanksgiving twice a day for the next week!
After we ate, I would lay on the floor watching the Dallas Cowboys for hours until my stomach could try to somehow deal with the strain I had just put it through. We usually stayed late and enjoyed visiting and laughing with Grandma. The effort she put into making Thanksgiving special was overwhelming evidence of her love for us. Even as a boy I could recognize this. Her house never seemed small to me as a boy. I believe that says a lot about who she was and still is. I did not see her house, I saw her. She stayed in a small home, but she lived in a huge place; a boy’s heart.
At Thanksgiving, regardless of whether I get to spend it with my grandma or not, she is always at the forefront of my thoughts. For the rest of my life, Thanksgiving will always be hers. She created a place in my heart that will last forever. Although I can list a million things to be thankful for at Thanksgiving, she will always have that top spot. I am grateful for her selflessness, and she plays a part in the man I am today.
When I write, I am usually writing to men. But, today, I am writing to all the moms and grandma’s who work tirelessly trying to create special memories for their children and grandchildren. You may not get a verbal thank you for the hours you spend preparing food and cleaning and putting away dishes. But please do not stop the hard work you put into it. Even if you do not see it, you are creating your own special place in someone’s heart.
Grandma, I am grateful.
