This morning I received this email from the pastor of a local church. (They have been doing online services since COVID started):
We began the month of November with a service naming our losses and our grief in this pandemic time.
Next Sunday, we enter the holiday season with a Thanksgiving service and a chance to name the grace we’ve found, the gifts we’ve received, and the gratitude we need to name. Would you be willing to share? Please message me this week with the things that have surprised you for the good over the last eight months, the moments that have brought you a sense of peace, and the things you are most grateful for.
I’ll be weaving your contributions into a homily and some time for meditation the following Sunday (11/22) as we turn the corner into Thanksgiving.
Good for him! Mourning first, then gratitude. What have you been mourning, what are you grateful for?
A simple email from Kaitlin this afternoon made me happy every time I thought of it. She said it was a gray day and they expected rain and strong winds any minute, but she had made chicken noodle soup for dinner and it was so good. That’s what I love about cold, blustery weather…being safe and warm inside for the evening and appreciating the contrast. Thanks, Kaitlin!
November 15, 2020
Just yesterday Bud & I talked about finding positives in our lives since covid … it’s always easier to find negatives, until you search for positives & thankfulness. He (your pastor) has a good idea. A woven piece of work that WILL work for others as well.
Yes. 🙂
I have much more to be grateful for than I do to mourn so that in itself is something to be grateful for.
I always appreciate an email or a text from friends or family. And yes, being safe and warm inside on a cold day is wonderful.
🙂
I am safe and cool with my AC and sunshine, for that I am grateful.. My miracle would go in the email to your pastor… under gifts, graces and gratitude
I’m so happy about your miracle. That must be a huge relief.
I am mourning the future loss of seeing my family over the coming holidays but I’m grateful that I still have that family. Six have been REALLY sick with Covid-19 and one is in quarantine right now.
Wow! We don’t know anyone who has been sick because of it. Yet.
I’ve never been into labels and such. yet I always think of and even call myself a cozy minimalist. the two words have just always gone together for me as a way of life.
I wish the world could feel cozy. and safe.
and maybe learn how little it takes to be rich.
(she says as she sits with the world at her fingertips with this computer! LOL!)
but I’m forever grateful for that very thing. so many friends and so much happiness that it brings.
I hope that love and home gain new importance in this pandemic.
and hot soup. and coziness and wonderful dogs that make us laugh!
We are so incredibly lucky. 🙂
What a novel idea! Before I go over-thinking …
I’m mourning the freedom I felt to roam here and there, never second-guessing a decision to eat out (still haven’t done so) … even hug my friends.
Mostly I’m grateful my son’s but 25 miles down the road — v. the nearly 2,000 we experienced for many years.
I’m so happy for you. Kaitlin and Torben are now over 2200 miles away. For years it was only about 1300 miles, which was far enough.
Love Kaitlin’s way of dealing with nasty weather.
And it is a lovely idea, to try to notice our blessings, especially in this coming dark but happy time of the year.
Yes, I’m a big one for thanking our lucky stars.
Oh, there is nothing like cold, blustery weather to make a person appreciate their warm home…it is something I think about a lot. How the early settlers survived. I always wonder would I have had the fortitude to do what was required, but then we almost all do what we have to do.
I am as ever thankful for our kids only being 60 miles away…the one lived in Los Angeles for 6 yrs, then transferred to St. Louis for 2 or 3 years, and hopefully will stay here. but I would not bet money on it.
I am thankful that the only health issue I have to watch about is skin cancer. I take no meds on a regular basis. And I am thankful for the meds that keep Roger’s BP under control…as well as anti depressants…he had never suffered from depression a day in his life till after the stroke. Then it was terrible…I cannot even describe it till you can comprehend it…but our nurse practitioner got it under control within two weeks after we went to her.
Probably more than you you want to read so will hush…
I appreciate you writing! I’ve had some experience with depressed people, so I’m glad the nurse practitioner could help so quickly. And with Kaitlin and Torben being so far away, I understand how lucky you are to have your kids close. This spring K and T went from about 1300 miles away to over 2200.
We are sad here not to be able to share our holidays with family in person, but we are grateful that we all have our health and no Covid. We will still enjoy visiting via Zoom.
Zoom meetings are a lot better than nothing… I was surprised how touched I was by the reunion I participated in last month. And Covid restrictions won’t last forever, thank goodness. Fingers crossed for next year.