thanksgiving and stress boxes

Today is Thanksgiving, and I’m intensely aware of being thankful. I’ve been remembering three years ago. We were moving. Our son and his family were moving. A baby was on her way, and my full-of-life father-in-law had died.

Stress levels were off the chart since we were ticking way too many stress boxes. I remember being sad and afraid, angry and crying, but also very grateful to have my kids and grandkids all living in the same town. In our fluid world, this is a rare blessing.

The dust has settled – as much as it can in Central Oregon – but there’s stuff. There always is, right?

While standing in line at Trader Joe’s on Sunday afternoon, I watched people. The scene was alive, buzzing and organic. Noise levels were high; the place was crammed. The bustle made me happy. And, I thought, what stories do these people have?

The guy checking my groceries said he was single, had been invited to join friends for Thanksgiving, but wasn’t sure. He saw too much drama in all the expectation and explanation of his customers. Why do we do that to ourselves?

In various conversations, emotions run the gamut. Some are over-the-top, others filled with dread and still others are at ease with whatever. After all, it is what it is.

Crap happens, my friends. That’s a simple fact of life that we have no control over at all. The only control we have is our response. I’d love to tell you I always respond in a correct way. Ha! Quite frankly, I don’t. However, my heart is absorbing and deciding. I find coming face-to-face with the One who holds all things together lets me know how ultimately blessed I am. And, part of that blessing comes in the form of the unpleasant. The slant of our view changes and it changes us.

Do I want to relive the events of three years ago? Heck, no! But I do know those events have brought me to an awfully grateful point. So, I can absolutely say I’m thankful, grateful, blessed … on Thanksgiving, and every day.

Peace and grace –

Missy

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