Giving Thanks

Looking to the future
#1

I saw this below a while ago and have just come across it again in my inbox. I have adapted it slightly to personalise it. It made me think, really think and I thought I should share it…

Giving Thanks

Time to reflect and time to gather
Thoughts of what to be thankful of.
Thankful? I think not.
My life is not full these days
And to be thankful is beyond my grasp.
But to give thanks? This, I believe, can be done.
Searching my soul deep within
Reasons to give thanks surface to the edge
Yes, I give thanks
For the memories of yesterdays,
The love, the laughter, the joy of each day when we were all together
The trials & tribulations of being an active parent,
The rewards & the challenges of raising a child,
The days of blissful ignorance when I thought tragedy would never visit our home,
The days when life was normal, even though I took it all for granted.
For the treasures of today,
The sunrise, sunset, the changing of the seasons,
The new found friends along this journey I reluctantly travel
The tried & true friends who stand by me still,
The strong and everlasting love of my husband even though he’s passed
The warmth of wet kisses from my canine companions,
The encouragement & support, compassion & caring I give & receive as
I survive and help others survive.
For the hopes and possibilities of a peaceful tomorrow,
With faith, love, & perseverance as I struggle to move on
With David in my heart forevermore, spiritually guiding me with his new presence,
With sorrow and reluctance, each new day,
To yet, somehow, be open and loving,
Not to forsake what I’ve learned
Because of what I’ve lost.

You see, it’s not about keeping up with the Jones’ having an SUV or two in the garage, having the largest beanie baby collection having so many CD’s, video games, or the newest, most improved, latest and greatest new gadgets, not even being up to date with state-of-the-art technology -

It’s about love - it’s about the gifts of yesterday, blended with the blessings of today to make meaning for tomorrow.

Written by Meg Avery

4 Likes
#2

Hi Kate
Thank you for sharing I,m grateful you did.I can relate to each and every line,it,s lovely x

#3

I like that. I think it helps occasionally to reflect on just how fortunate we have been
There is a long list of things there.
I’m sure there many people, for all sorts of reasons, that would have a much, much shorter list and many in this world would just like to have something to be thankful.
It’s a very comprehensive list and I can see that I’ve been extremely fortunate. My list of complaints would be very short

#4

I will miss my child forever but I will be forever grateful:
That she grew in my womb and I loved her from the minute I knew she was there.
That she made me a parent and for a time I was the most important person in her life.
That she taught me so much including courage.
That she and her brother enjoyed sibling joy, shared so much, and made my life worthwhile.
So many wonderful memories. Xx

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#5

Beautiful Matella. Sometimes our grief overshadows everything else. Xx

#6

Eileen used to pray, I know that, although she didn’t advertise or make any show about it.
But one thing she did do more openly was to say, “Aren’t we lucky ?” about lots of simple, modest things in life.
“Aren’t we lucky “ . . . to have a nice warm fire. To have good food. To live in a nice place. To have good neighbours. And so on.
I mentioned how she did this when I wrote and then spoke my eulogy to her at her funeral. I wrapped up by saying, “Aren’t we lucky to have had her as wife, Mum, Nanny and great grandma, and friend, for so many years ?”
It is becoming a family tradition now, to say it (at least when things go right) and I hope that it survives. As a child I was often told that a grandparent (who I never knew) used to say this, or that, a familiar favourite saying. Not necessarily an inspirational thing - a grey, cold, dark. windy and wet winter morning would be greeted with a remark that it was “a day for a hanging,” a term I still use without really thinking.
Eileen’s little informal, kinder, prayers of thanks, “Aren’t we lucky, etc” deserves so much to be one of the touchstones by which she will be remembered and live on in our hearts every day. Children yet to be born will be told “your great grandma always used to say that”

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#7

Oh Edwin, what a lovely post. Thank you. Xx

#8

Eileen was a truly lovely person.

#9

My eldest daughter said to me"it feels like only yesterday since dad passed,"she then said,“because the last conversation i had with Dad has never moved on,never changed,never progressed,frozen in that moment,so it will always feel like yesterday”
I took great comfort from that,as no matter how long i’m here ,it will always feel like only yesterday since hubby went away.So i give thanks for our lovely daughters thoughts,like in your post Kate "I give thanks for the memories of yesterdays "xx

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#10

Hi Kate
Another great post.
It got me thinking about what Margaret used to say when we had some difficulties in life. She said as long as we have each other and the kids nothing else matters.
To love unconditionally and be loved in return is something I am so thankful for and the thing I miss so much.
Thanks William

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#11

Thank you Crazy Kate. Perhaps one day we will have more happy thoughts, than sad thoughts, of our loved ones.

#12

What a lovely lady Edwin. No wonder you loved her so much. I was reading a book recently and it said that we should do just as your Eileen did. Think or write down all the simple things in life that we are so lucky to have. I too prayed quietly every day. Just thankful for the things I had. Another day with my husband, my family, dogs, food, heat, my health, you know everyday things. My husband always made out he didn’t have much time for prayer but I found a crucifix in his wallet after he died and prayers among his things. Like your Eileen he was a lovely, kind, generous person liked by everyone. I can’t pray now as I can’t work out why such a lovely man isn’t still with me. Why so many good people are taken from us.

#13

Thank you Kate for sharing that. It is beautiful. Kind words from others in casual conversation have also given me comfort. A comment that ‘he loved his dancing’ and I realise I was the lucky one to be his dancing partner as well as his wife for over fifty years. Only today a neighbour admired a water-colour painting displayed on a wall in my home, one of the many painted by my husband before disability struck. Lovely to have these thoughts brought to mind that lift the grief, and make one thankful. Deidre

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