Be Thankful for Memories

It is Thanksgiving week and it would be very easy for me to write a column calling for all of us to take time during this period to thank God for all the blessings that we have. Indeed that is the proper thing for all of us to do.

Even if we are in a low place in our lives the truth is that we can be thankful for God’s sustaining presence with us in those low places.

Yet, I must be totally honest. I have approached Thanksgiving with a sense of apprehension this year. Two years ago on Thanksgiving my wife, daughter and I dined with my wife’s family on Thanksgiving. A few months later, my wife’s father, a hearty robust fellow, passed away and created an empty seat at the family table.

Last Thanksgiving we dined with mother. A few months later, after battling chronic health conditions for many years, she passed away leaving an empty seat at another family table.

As we sit down to dine this year there will be thoughts of empty places at the Thanksgiving table in many of our families. There will be those that have passed away and those who are absent from our tables for other reasons.

Some will be absent due to estrangement, others will be absent due to the fact their presence is required with “the other side of the family” this year.

There will even be homes in which some will be absent due to the fact that they are serving our nation in the military. Whatever the reason there will be those who are absent and they will be missed.

Yet, even in their absence we can give thanks for them. If they have passed from our midst we can give thanks for the memories they created during their lifetime. If they are absent for other reasons we can thank God for the continuing presence in our lives.

I am sure there will be empty places at all of our tables. Yet, we can be thankful for the love that we have shared with those who are absent. We can thank God for sharing them with us. We can honor their memories.