Thrust into a Blessing

I’ve always loved the holidays.  It was the time I would focus on my family coming together and celebrating.  Even if it was just myself and my girls, I knew we’d be together, and we’d celebrate, usually with an elaborate meal, a great spread.  Preparing for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s was one of my great joys.  Well, as was the case for many, 2020 prompted me to make decisions I didn’t want to make.  After prayer and discussion with my girls, I decided to cancel our traditional Thanksgiving dinner, instructing those with homes to prepare dinner on their own, at their homes.  To ensure safety, we decided it was best to stay apart for Thanksgiving.  Mind you, while we didn’t think things would change by the end of the year, we could only focus on one holiday at a time.

Initially it was a challenging and sad decision. I saw it turned out to be an excellent experience for everyone.  My girls were able to plan, shop for, and prepare their version of Thanksgiving dinner.  I was there to answer the many calls, video chats, and text messages to walk them through cooking the turkey, making the dressing, or even to discuss their menu.  I got such enjoyment in seeing my precious young ladies own their meals.  I witnessed from afar that while they kept some traditions, they created new ones for themselves.  I’m so grateful to know that they could do it, that I could pass the baton, and that they’d be ok.  Once again, God showed me that change, while on the surface may appear frightening or sad, can also be a blessing.  It’s all in how it’s received and how it’s perceived.

I’m grateful for the opportunity my children had to create their own traditions.  I’m also thankful that we were able to make hard decisions for the safety of all those involved.  An easy life isn’t promised.  It’s up to each individual to find the blessing(s) within the trials.  While I miss my family terribly, I wouldn’t change our holiday decisions for anything.  It showed us all just what could happen if we kept moving forward without allowing difficult decisions to keep us down.

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1: 2-4, NASB2020)