Gratitude

The holiday season is finally over. It's been 3 months, Canadian Thanksgiving, Halloween,  American Thanksgiving,  Hanukkah, Christmas and finally New Years. It's been long, painful and cluttered. I know I bring it on myself. Eight pies for Canadian Thanksgiving dinner, a homemade costume to sew two days before Halloween, volunteering on American Thanksgiving, Hanukkah presents to buy, Christmas party's and teacher gifts. I insist on doing it all and doing it big.

Through it all a stream of gratitude ran through my heart.

As a Canadian in America I'm often asked if the Canadian Thanksgiving tradition is the same as the American. No, Canada didn't have the Pilgrims and the Waumpenoags. There wasn't a big feast where the Natives shared with the newly arrived Pilgrims. What Canada had was a grateful mind set.  Any time they wanted to, they would declare a day of Thanksgiving.  The ship arrived safely in the harbor. The war was over. The cholera plague has ended. The coronation of the King. For whatever reason we might like, at any time, we can declare a day to praise the Almighty and offer our thanksgiving. Perhaps this why Canadian Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday.

But this past year Thanksgiving was not just the beginning of the holiday season but the beginning of my emphasis on gratitude. There is so much goodness and beauty in the world if we can just pause to see it.

Against all odds my guy and I are still together and happy.

I have 7 wonderful healthy children.

I have my very own, beautiful home.

Unlike the pilgrims and the Waumpenoags,  I have heat, electricity and hot running water.

I have a SUV that fits my whole family in it and I have a Mustang for those days that I'm on my own.

I have a mom who loves me.

I have a best friend who would help me hide the body if I ever needed her too.

I have a sister, brother-in-law, cousin and more, who are there for me.

I have a community, with a mail man, a car guy, a deli guy, teachers, coaches, and friends of all shapes and sizes.

I have books to read.

I have a cell phone and all the wonderful technology that goes with it.

I have a dog and three cats that like to keep my feet warm.

My bills are paid and there is food in the fridge.

I am healthy.

I have loved and learned and grown in ways I couldn't imagine.

No matter where I look, the piles of dirty laundry, the mud on the floor, the spilled milk inside the fridge, the rumpled bed... each one of these things remind me of how blessed I am and how wonderful my life really is.

It can be so easy to focus on the negative, the violence,  the responsibilities, the lack. Not enough time, money, fun, love. Instead of lack or loss, instead of too many chores and not enough fun, instead of bills and debt, I see all the gifts I've been given, the love that fills my life, the ease with which I live and I am thankful.






http://www.angelfire.com/pa2/passover/thanksgiving/canada.html