A Thanksgiving in Remembrance
While we were having Thanksgiving dinner(/lunch), I couldn't help but remember what Thanksgiving dinners were like when my dad was still here with us. He always sat at the head of the table (a seat we left open today). He would always pester my mom to hurry and join everyone at the table since she would always be doing last-minute things in the kitchen. He would always burp at least once during the dinner then comment on how that just means that the food is especially good. And without fail, he would always be the last one at the table, still eating to his heart's content. I got sad thinking that this Thanksgiving, like the last two and all the ones from now on, instead of being at the head of the table, he could only be in the back of my mind. As I was helping to clear the table, I had to push down a lot of emotions that were building up because I really didn't want to be a debbie-downer in front of everyone.
I sat down to read, and I couldn't think of any other passage to turn to except for this one. This was my dad's favorite passage in the Bible, and he read it to my family at least once a week over the last 2 or so years he was still with us. I think I would normally have read this passage and gotten frustrated at the thought that to be a good Christian, I have to always be happy, always wear a smile, and just deal with suffering like it's just part of life. But I don't think that's why it was here for me to read tonight. I think my dad always read it to us so that we could be reminded that there's always a reason to be happy even though it's hard to be happy all the time. A lot of what he did wasn't enjoyable or fun, like working really long, physically-draining hours for 20+ years. But he had his family, his home, his church, and God as things that gave him reasons to be joyful. He had pictures of my family taped up on the walls at work. Without shame, he always put his Bible right on the store counter. When he got home from work every night, I always noticed the smell of sweat and could see how tired he was, but he always came into the house shouting me and my sister's names so we could come and give him a hug, smiling the whole time.
I've really forgotten this lesson that my dad had been teaching me, but I'm glad that reading this verse can always remind me that I still have a lot to learn and a long way to grow. There's always a lot to be thankful for and, from there, things to look forward to. I want to be reminded of this more and more often.
Created over 2 years ago
