A Fresh Perspective on Thanksgiving

    It’s a Thanksgiving tradition in our family for each of us to hold hands and form a circle, taking turns sharing a blessing from the year. The list of blessings often includes new babies, celebrated weddings or anniversaries, good health, new homes, new jobs and so on. Then the children share their blessings, often thankful for items like wearing their favorite socks, Mom’s buying their favorite cereal at the store and discovering their long-lost toy hiding under the beds… while the adults in the family giggle at the creative and specific blessings. But I’ve been thinking… maybe, just maybe, the kids are on to something. 

    I’ll never forget a visit to my grandparents’ home one summer. My oldest daughter was a toddler and she delighted in discovering her reflection in the window of Grandma’s sliding glass doors. Emily traversed the width of the door, smiling and chattering as she kissed each image of herself. That afternoon, we observed an entire row of kiss marks across the glass. When I called Grandma later in the week, she said she could hardly bring herself to clean the glass because the kisses reminded her of watching Emily’s joy and the fun we had when we were there. 

    I have to admit, as I look at the fingerprints, smudges--and sometimes even lip marks--around my home, my first thought isn’t “what a wonderful reminder of my darling children.” I’m so quick to grab the 409 and wash it away. 

    This Thanksgiving, I’m going to try to learn from the sincerity of the children in our family and the wisdom of my grandmother and count some blessings I may have forgotten! 

    I am thankful for the giggles in the other room even after bedtime because it means my girls are forging a solid relationship that will last a lifetime. 

    I am thankful for my messy mini van because its collections of crumbs, toys and books tell the story of the family memories we’re creating every day. 

    I am thankful for sick days… thankful for our wonderful pediatrician and great health care that my children are treated so well, and thankful that I am able to build my relationship with them as I show them love when they are cared for and nurtured. 

    I am thankful for rainy days, snowy days and all other “we have to stay inside because of bad weather” days because we aren’t distracted by errands and outings, but instead focus on family time and memory-building--and we enjoy getting out all-the-more once we can. 

    I am thankful for the bouncing, screaming, noisy children who are distracting me as I write this article. They bring more joy and love to our family than I could have ever imagined and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Really, I wouldn’t. I mean that. Yeah, I really mean that.

Kansas City mom Kristina Light is looking forward to celebrating her family this Thanksgiving. Her #1 Blessing of 2010? She has three delightful daughters waking her bright and early each morning.