Month: November 2018

Dear Lord – 

First things first – – 

Today I am thankful (and I think I speak for all of us) that we’re not having dinner with Donald Trump and his family.

I’m also thankful that while I loved Grandma Ferne, we are not burdened with green jello “salad” that contains cottage cheese, celery and green peppers. Or burdened with orange jello salad that contains carrots, raisins and walnuts, though some would argue that last point. Those traditions are thankfully behind us.

Moving on  – – 

Thank you for the 12 people at this table (that includes me), and the family we have created.

Be with Leif, who is not with us today. We’re also glad that Audrey is back from her awesome auto adventure. 

Thank you for the ones that were with us once, but no longer. Families are both born, and built, and we’ve done both, with your help and theirs.

They helped us to learn about family, and they taught us how to make Thanksgiving food. 

The moms and aunts, mostly, taught us how to be calm under pressure and how to get everything done at the same time, while still hot.

These are lessons that apply to more than just Thanksgiving, and not just to women.

Thank you for the dads and uncles who knew when to help and when to just go sit in the corner. 

These are also lessons that apply to more than just Thanksgiving, and not just to men.

And to all the orphans, immigrants and refugees, literal and figurative, be with them today and everyday. Help us to do our best to help them.

Thank you for this food. There is enough here for the omnivores, the herbivores, the pescatarians, vegetarians, vegans and heathens, the lactose-intolerant, gluten-intolerant, sugar-intolerant, just plain intolerant, and for those who drink a little wine, or sometimes too much, or not at all, for the meat lovers and sweet lovers, there is bounty for us all. Help us to get better at taking care of the environment, which means thinking about what we eat, how it is grown, and where it comes from.

Namaste and Amen

 

©Rebecca Larson 2018