Happy Thanksgiving

• She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Holidays have a unique effect sometimes, of bringing out the best and the worst in us, and Thanksgiving is no exception.

The best because we do usually pause, however briefly, to reflect on those things that we're thankful for--our families, if we have one; our health, however precarious; the abundance of food that the majority of us have the means for--all of those things that we do, face it, take for granted much of the time.

Along with all of the thankfulness, though, can come lots of pressure, which translates into lots of stress. Whether we are hosting an elaborate family get-together, or whether we are the ones visiting extended family, the pressure is there, just in different ways.

If we are hosting, we feel the pressure of making sure we've remembered everything from the rolls to the cranberry sauce. We want the food to be just right, and of course the house needs to be spotless, here comes Aunt Sara two hours early and I haven't even had my shower yet, oh-lord-who-invited-this-many-people-do-I-have-enough-of-everything-will-you-make-those-kids-go-outside-will-everyone-just-BE-QUIET-SO-WE-CAN-GIVE-THANKS-BEFORE-WE-EAT!

You know what I mean.

If you are the one traveling, you still have pressure, just of a different sort. What clothes will I need to bring, not just for myself, but for the kids? Will it be warm enough for them to play outside and run off some of this energy? Do I need an extra jacket for everybody? Do I have enough toys/books/crayons to keep them occupied if it's too cold/wet/rainy for them to go outside? Did I forget anything? No, honey, I need the snacks loaded in the front of the car, not the trunk. Yes, the other ice chest can go in the back, it has my pies in it. Ok, kids, everybody load up. I-thought-I-told-you-to-go-before-we-left-honey-we-have-to-pull-over-why-are-you-driving-so-fast-no-kids-we-aren't-there-yet-here-we-are-oh-look-Aunt-Sara-is-already-here-too-oh-great-who-invited-them-NO-KIDS-NOT-GRANDMAS-BEST-DISHTOWELS-go-in-the-bedroom-and-play-just-eat-a-little-of-what-I-put-on-your-plate-WILL-YOU-ALL-JUST-GET-QUIET-SO-WE-CAN-GIVE-THANKS!

Whew!

Just remember this--sometimes we are nicer to strangers than we are to our own families. And vice versa. It's not that we don't all love each other-but we do often know each other so well that we forget hose common courtesies that we would offer to strangers.

If you haven't had your family dinner yet, take a deep breath, say a prayer of thankfulness, and try to speak kindly. And carry a big stick. (just kidding!)

And if you're reading this after yours is over, and it turned into another three-ring-circus with everybody mad at everybody else, remember this--forgiveness is divine. Literally.

Hoping you and yours have a blessed holiday, with just the right amount of family togetherness to leave you wanting more, and a few shopping bargains this weekend to help you out of your post-turkey-day-blues.

Until next time...

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