BY DOVE
As I prepare for the family gathering of Thanksgiving, I reflect back on the traditions that have traveled down through our family for generations. The recipes that create the feeling of home, memories and joyful time spent together.
This year my family decided to have a traditional type of dinner with each faction bringing a certain contribution to the event. My daughter wanted me to bake with her children as that is a fond memory that was from their past. It is always a challenge to create all the food on the day of the event as I usually have had all the baking done ahead of time and all that needs to be done on Thanksgiving Day is the turkey and vegetables.
For me, I am always more comfortable if I have a plan and give everyone their assignments. This I have done; however, some of the baking will be done at the last minute because some of my family won’t arrive until the day before the feast. I decided to make recipe books for my grandchildren as it occurred to me that when I journey on, they might like to have the ability to retrieve some of the old family recipes.
So, with Zoom calls we determined the special foods that make the holiday our traditions. My grandmother’s cornbread stuffing—for me, this is what Thanksgiving is all about; my daughter wants her paternal-grandmother’s dinner rolls; my son-in-law has a desire for certain mashed potatoes; my grandson wants the perfectly-crafted pumpkin pie; my other two grandchildren want angel food cake with the old family recipe of chess icing. Much energy will go into the creating of this feast, but it really isn’t about the food, it is about creating together and sharing.
We take time to stop our regular activities and experience a change in routine. A lot of effort goes into this change in routine, but it is heartwarming to hear the children speak of their gratitude. It makes me laugh when my youngest grandson shows me how he can wiggle his ears and curl his tongue. It is so easy to get stuck in our routines and not put the energy into changing things up. Holidays are a chance to invest in new energy patterns and decide which ones are of value and which ones we want to let go of. This is an ideal time as we are in limbo in so many facets of living to change up our traditions and seek to live life at a more loving energy.
Use thanksgiving to explore the opportunity to move into a higher frequency. Apply this attitude to all elements of your life. Hold the energy of thankfulness in your daily life, not just the holiday. Above all, hold the element of peace and abundance for all. Even if you are at loose ends this holiday, do something special for yourself or someone else. It will fill your heart with joy. Blessings on this special tradition of being thankful. Not the food, but the love, is the gift.
Dove
