Gratitude

“Ironically, feeling powerless (literally and figuratively) is what prompted us into resourcefulness which eventually led to genuine gratitude.”

This Thanksgiving provided a few tests for our ability to focus on gratitude. 

We began our day with the notion that we would not be spending it with all of the people we love and care about.  It is difficult to think positively when people we love make choices to hold grudges rather than put differences aside to come together and celebrate a holiday. 

The attitude of others was not the only cold thing that day. The sky and roads were covered in snow.  We spent a total of three and a half hours in the car to make sure that everyone got to and from our home safely. During one of the drives, we saw three cars in a ditch and almost ended up in one as we started sliding backwards at the top of the hill that led to our street. That was the point of the day when I broke down and cried.  Luckily, I was around very loving people who were so sweet and comforting as the stress of the morning flowed out of my eyes in sobs. 

After pulling myself together, we started cooking.  About 30 minutes into the cooking process, our power went out.  At that point, Chris and I looked at each other and laughed. 

Ironically, feeling powerless (literally and figuratively) is what prompted us into resourcefulness which eventually led to genuine gratitude. 

Most of our Thanksgiving meals were being cooked on the gas stove, so we would be able to finish them.   The only food that we were baking when the power went out was homemade sourdough bread.  Luckily, I remembered that I could use my Pampered Chef Rockcrok (which is what I use to bake my sourdough bread) on the barbecue, so Chris turned on the barbecue and got the temperature to 450 degrees.  Once it was ready,  I took the dish out of the oven, and we finished baking bread on the barbecue.  It turned out to be very tasty, as did the rest of the meal that we cooked without electricity.  

Our can-do attitude made the rest of the day much more enjoyable.  There were many yummy sounds at the table, and we were able to spend time together without the distraction of things that require electricity.  We realized how much we didn’t need light or screens or certain appliances to have a meaningful holiday.  

It is possible to find an even deeper level of gratitude after something that was once gone returns. We found that we can create our own light, even when we are powerless, and for that, we are thankful.