During my days working in Germany many years ago I was introduced to the American Thanksgiving Celebration. I was invited to share in the preparations for, and partake in, the special family meal that was central to the day. All the family members made decorations for the house or the table.
I loved the idea that all were included and encouraged to use their talents. Using talents is an expression of thanks. We all have talents even if they are not clearly visible to us personally.
Why can’t Christmas be more like Thanksgiving? Lose the commercialism and dwell more on the things we have to be grateful for. The best present we can give another human being is Time.
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary, because it means you’ve made a difference.
It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfilment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.
To one and all I wish a Talent using Thanksgiving!
Well said GrannyMar. Our Christmas is indeed a thanksgiving celebration of sorts. The most fun is five women in the kitchen preparing food and drinking Mango Daquiries between attempts to cool down via sporadic sploshes in the pool! No-one could give me a better gift!
Baino, Mango Daquiries sound very smooth. I remember years ago a friend did Lime Daquiries with crushed ice. They were seriously good. In fact they were the only really cold drink I ever enjoyed.
As a kid Thanksgiving was a big deal at my house. We lived midway between the relatives in New England and the relatives down south so our house was where everyone gathered. I remember Thanksgiving Days with 100 plus people in my parents house and dinner was done in shifts.
Brian that sounds like good noisy fun.
We do not celebrate Thanksgiving in Ireland, I wish we did.
The most we ever had in our house at one time was 85. Thankfully the weather was good and people spilled out into the garden.