Thank God for Thanksgiving

An eerie silence fell over the entire house as my son’s SUV backed out of the driveway. Three days of entertaining, corralling and cajoling grandchildren had come to an abrupt end. A feeling of regret and relief while caught up in the reflections of my own childhood washed over me as I unconsciously murmured the words “it’s not fair”.

Perhaps old age faded my recall and the passing of time dulled my memory. In my mind’s journal I recall living through childhood with a bit less intensity. I don’t remember the green beans or other vegetables being quite so annoying and vile to my juvenile pallet. I don’t remember it mattering if the green beans touched the mashed potatoes. Although…I have vivid memories of liver being totally inedible…and I remember refusing to eat it irregardless of the consequences. I remember the resulting irresolvable dispute and conflict…and…I remember going to bed without supper. But the sun came up the following morning and life went on. To this day I believe liver should not be permitted in any food group and only allowed to exist for the resoling of shoes. And there were other impossible, inescapable, irresolvable situations…those caused by a knee jerk answer…which any parent will get when they ask the wrong question, (i.e. “Did you do that?”) There is one and only one answer to that question. An emphatic “NO”…and once you’ve gone on record you simply cannot change your answer. It is not the admission of guilt that is so bad…but…“ipso facto” admitting to being a liar. That would be totally unacceptable by any childhood standards. So, again with unwavering obstinacy I would stick to my story even in the face of such threats as being “burned at the stake” or “dipped in boiling oil”. Perhaps my childhood was a bit more intense than I recall. I am certain I challenged my parents’ patience to the very core and for that I apologize. “Sorry Mom and Dad”.

It was a great weekend filled with launching model rockets into outer space, chasing each other around the house and playing trampoline dodge ball…all punctuated with screams of “do it again” and “it’s my turn”. The fun and games only ended once blood was drawn and first aid administered.

Their endless energy is truly amazing…if there were only some way to capture this renewable resource. And to think that all this energy is generated with no vegetables and only small amounts of Mac and Cheese, Pizza, and an occasional hot dog.

Thank you, Father God, for allowing us to survive an intense Thanksgiving
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for children and grandchildren to share Thanksgiving with
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for no stitches, no trips to the emergency room and hopefully no permanent psychological damage.
Amen