Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday of the year. It is a day to spend time reflecting on
what I am thankful for and a reminder that I should do that more often. These include people I love,
things I enjoy, struggles I’ve grown from, clean water, four seasons, powerful memories of those no
longer with us, running in the rain or cold, feeling loved, good food and drink shared, the list goes on and
on.
Thanksgiving does have problems, such as often being a meal whose preparation time and effort are
completely unsustainable on a regular basis. Until days start having 28 hours, I’ll never have four or five
hours a day to prepare one meal. But preparing and sharing food with others is one of my true love
languages. I hope that has become apparent to many of you over the years. It is a way for me to be in
service to others and I believe it fills them up in more ways than one, as it does me.
Every dish I prepare isn’t perfect, but each one is prepared with love. And I believe the latter is the more
important of the two. As others do things for us, or celebrate what is important to them, may we all give
space for their intent and look past differences in our views. Let us all be thankful for the time, effort, and
love they are extending to us.
Stacy Yoder