When Laura shares her feelings of thankfulness with her Missouri Ruralist readers, she makes note of all the things we sometimes don’t take the time to be thankful for, the everyday things to which we never give a thought. Inasmuch as we often regard her family life, as portrayed in her books, as stoic, we also must recognize the sheer gratitude that comes from recognizing that life, itself, is a gift.
She notes that a friend wrote to her, trying to find something to be grateful for in a tough year. “We are in our usual health,” her friend wrote. And Laura, countering that thought, points out that good health itself should be welcomed with gratitude.
I think about her words often during this week of Thanksgiving. Every year, I use this time to reflect about the year past, to take stock of what I’m grateful for, and to show those I love how grateful I am for their presences in my life. In years past, before my paternal grandmother died, the entire Mattson clan gathered at this one time of the year. My father, uncles, cousins and others every year congregate at our family hunting cabin for deer hunting season this week in Douglas County, Wis., and while she lived, they all showed up on Thanksgiving morning, ready to help with the bounty coming from Grandma Elsie’s kitchen.
She passed away in 2001, and the family circle, in the natural way of such things, shrunk to the individual households of her sons, who in turn have large families. (At the time of her passing, we counted 67 descendants.) Still, there’s a reminiscence at this time, as the hunters return with their deer, and traditional foods come out of our kitchens. Grandma’s donuts, lefse, chocolate layer cake with date filling, and spinach dip often turn up. They’re somehow not quite the same, but we’re grateful to have a flavorful reminder of her on our Thanksgiving tables.
This year, my family will join my husband and I here, and they’ll stay for a few days. It will be a bustling horde of folks, eager to help in the kitchen, playing games in the living room, crafting in the basement. Nearly every age is represented in this crew, and love abounds where we gather for food, fun, and family.
I’m grateful.
This year, I’m simply thankful for my family and their presence in my life. I’m thankful that they all can come and join us here, and I’m grateful to have the means for hosting them. It’s been a rough year for many.
But as Laura points out again and again, we don’ t need much when we have family.
What are you thankful for?
I am also thankful for my family. Thanksgiving and family have also been special to me however, 6 years ago a situation that I won’t go into changed those feelings. For the majority of the past 6 years my family was in crisis. That changed in the summer of 2008 and we are now one again. Although we can’t all be together physically, we are together spiritually with a stronger bond than ever. I am thankful that God has worked in his own time and His own way to bring us back together.
I became ill at the very beginning of November and spent a few days in the hospital. For three weeks, I could do very little…but I did do a lot of thinking.
I thought mostly about how thankful I am for my family. I hate being taken care of, but they did a wonderful job. I am thankful that our business has survived another year in these tough times. I am thankful that I have recovered (mostly) and especially that no one else in my family (including both my mother and mother-in-law) became ill.
I am so very thankful that my grown children are here and we will all be together for Thanksgiving. Along with two of my siblings and their families, we will all gather for Thanksgiving.
Oh and I’m thankful that my sister is making the turkey and bringing it to our house.
Laura M: That’s wonderful! So glad to hear it.
Laura W: I’m thankful that you’re well!
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