As Thanksgiving approaches, our minds all turn toward dinner and family gatherings. This year I want to feed my family more than the turkey and stuffing and pumpkin pie that traditionally have been the centers of attraction. As we gather for the first time in two years, I have so much more with which I want to nourish them.
Feed them love. As I rush to envelop each of them in my arms, I want them to feel and know that their mother and grandmother loves them with a love that is unconditional and knows no bounds. I want them to feel that hug long after we have disentangled ourselves from each other.
Feed them hospitality. As Dave flings open wide the doors of his home, we enter knowing that what is his is now ours for the time we share together. We each bring our part to the feast - food, beverages, and helping hands. We know that we will cook together, eat together and clean together. And in the end, all that really matters is that we are gathering at the table together in love.
Feed them gratitude. As we go around the table and voice what we are thankful for, my response is simply each of them. In this time of living so far apart, when I think about what I am most grateful for, it is these five humans. They top every gratitude list that I have ever made.
Feed them acceptance. As our conversations grow and wind around life and love and beliefs, let them know that anything that they may worry about will not be judged, evaluated, or criticized. We are all welcome at this table; we come with our gifts as well as our flaws. This is what it is to be family.
Feed them joy. The Gianninis have always been a family of laughter. It may be sarcastic, but we know how to laugh. There is always abundant joy in our time together. This year as we welcome Tessa into the fold, I know there will be stories and there is not one of our family stories that doesn’t finish with joy at the end.
Feed them compassion. The last two years have been a difficult journey for all of us. We have been apart and trying to keep our individual ships afloat until we could be together again. As we reconnect, we rest assured that despite the trials, we all come with nothing but love and understanding for each other..
Feed them patience. Work schedules and travel plans and cooking family dinners all take patience. We come together knowing that the turkey may take longer than we thought, the gravy may be lumpy, and the wine may go quicker than anticipated. We approach it all with understanding and flexibility knowing that the only goal is to be together.
When Thanksgiving Thursday turns into Friday and Saturday and next year and beyond, I want to look back on 2021 as the year we fed each other all the best of what we had to give. Let us feed our joy and compassion, patience and acceptance, hospitality and gratitude, and most of all love.
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