The Art of Thanksgiving.

Southern hospitality and general manners require the reply of "thank you" when you receive anything from another person. This is an act, as parents, we have attempted to teach and engrave into our children. It must have finally caught on because the third of the three is the most genuine with her "thank you", the first and the second, well, maybe a testament to our parenting, but it's a work in progress. Polite, yes; genuine, maybe, not so much. Again, work in progress. 

I get amused at the level of annoyance people reach from the Facebook postings around this time of the year. I love it because I enjoy reading the differences in the people.  I also enjoy the annoyed posts, but again, I love reading about the differences in the people.  

Thanksgiving is an art. Now, my first thought, because I love to eat and more than that, I love and respect my Mamaw to such a degree that no words in my vocabulary exist or amount of saying it a loud that will express it, but my first thought of Thanksgiving is Mamaw behind her stove in her kitchen. [She has a counter-top cook stove with an bar across from it and the BEST conversations and laughs have happened with Mamaw on one side and us girls on the other!] The smell that greets you when you step out of the car, yes, in the yard, is a smell of love! Prepared love! Baked loved! Gravy inspired.... you get the image. If you can sneak into the house and by the recliner housing a snoozing Papaw without Mamaw actually greeting you at the door, you will walk into her dinning room and catch the Lady of the House guarding her stove and tending the pots of gold. Thanksgiving! Now, my heart is fully aware that chances are, this is not an experience I will have for my entire lifetime, which brings me to the art of Thanksgiving. My heart is truly thankful at that moment each year. Truly thankful! Like David pouring out his thankful heart into the Psalms. If I had a harp, and could play a harp, you'd hear it, because I've got the David "thanks" going on! 

Thank you should not just be a polite gesture. I am one to believe that "thank you" is very similar to "love you". I believe "tk u" should not be tossed around. It's important. Say it when you mean it. I am guilty because I try to be polite and mannerly... I say I "try". And again, Jeremy and I attempt to teach our children polite manners. But I'll be honest, I want my children to say "thank you" when they mean it; not because it's expected.  See, it's an art; to have a genuinely thankful heart.  

... in EVERYTHING give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

 

I give thanks for... Jesus Christ. Jeremy. Skylar. Josie. Sloan. Mamaw. Heated seats. Quality sheets. Sonic unsweet tea. Palazzo pants... Happy Thanksgiving all!