Life - Little Irritations and Thanksgiving Thanks

It is the Holiday Season and everyone is rushing about, making sure their traditions (whether they admit it or not) is exactly the way they want it to be. But there is always the little glitches that throw on for a loop. Not being able to find the right item, not having enough funds and trying to stretch the budget until it screams HELP!

For many it is a time of sorrow and depression, of times and folks lost. Circumstances that are not what one wants, broken dreams and day dreams of better and happier times.

My folks always made the holidays the one special time when all the errors and wrongs were wiped away and there was so much acceptance and love. And there was always the one incident or two that made my mother not happy with me. Which was a lot. . . .

Years later when I had my own home, it was always a struggle trying not to be disappointed with the actions of others. I guess it was not until I knew that the holidays needed to be special for my children, so they would grow up having wonderful memories to latch on for their families.

For the most part my daughter has come to be the one to make this a reality for us all. I guess for us it all begins with making the list for Thanksgiving Dinner, going to the grocery store together and cooking and fixing wonderful dishes for all to enjoy. We have fallen into a tradition that is filled with fun and enjoyment. Even my son in law gets in on the cooking. He smokes the turkey breast which is just beyond yummy.

My brother comes for a day or two. Thanksgiving evening our good friends/family Tommy and Gigi come for a visit and lots of laughs. We take pictures and tell great stories. On Friday, my daughter and son in law rise at the crack or even before the crack of dawn and go shopping. Their Holiday Date. . . .

It is one of those times that seem all right with us all. Even if it isn't . . . .

During the holidays I usually take the holiday weeks off. Sometimes I wonder exactly why it is that I do that. Most of the time I am alone and not sure exactly what to do with myself. I usually ponder and reflect and cry and write. Stay up late - get up early.

When I was first separated, my former best friend would invite me to spend time with her and her family. It was a great time of laughter and good food. She does not do that any more. In fact the last time I went to her home for Thanksgiving, it was most uncomfortable, for it was obvious I was not welcomed.

Last year I house/pet sat for friends. I was also invited to have a Thanksgiving Celebration with a family that is family but not family (a very long story). This year I have not even had the offer of meeting them for coffee as they came through town. I am sure they are just busy. It is hard to make something become something when there is very little to build on. It was a nice fairy tale dream, but reality hits you in the face and you realize, it is too hard to try and make it work.

I have had Dinners in my home and invited lots of folks who otherwise would be alone, but that has not happened in awhile, I think mostly because of the stretching of the funds just were not there, and having everything at my daughters.

All in all, folks stay within their comfort zone and lots of times that means being alone.

I guess because of all the time to ponder and process and think and remember, I realize that for the most part, it has to be a really divine call even for the holidays. Why you say? Well, the human nature and actions are more selfish than giving. It is all about what makes one comfortable and not what could make someone else feel wanted or apart of.

The question that one has to ask themselves is "What are you doing this for?" Is it for making yourself feel good or really to make someone else feel good without any strings attached?"

Ok - here are some examples - and I will tell you on the front end of this. These are also some of those little things that irritate me - Don't Laugh!!

1. When you fill your "good deed" duty in giving to the "Collect Can Good Drives". do you give those out dated cans that have been sitting in your pantry for years or do you to and buy those can goods that you know you would eat yourself? I had to really laugh this year, for as I was going through my pantry, I found cans that had been given to me when I first moved into my home here and they had to have been out dated when they were given to me - by years!!!

2. Do you wish your "relatives" just would not come to dinner because it is always a "scene" or an irritation? Yesterday I heard a young lady talk openly to others about her father and having to put up with him. Well you know, none of us are perfect and we all have "irritating" habits, but what happened to "Loving a person right where they are?" HELLO!

3. This is not exactly a holiday irritation, but it happened just recently and has really bothered me a lot! One Sunday morning at my Churchhouse, a man who has been in our Churchhouse for years, placed a chair in front of his chair (he is deaf) waiting for someone to "sign" the sermon for him. No one came, the sad part, two seats down is a person that does sign and they just ignored him. Now out of 3 thousand plus members you would think we could accommodate this one person. If I had known how to "sign" I would have made a leap over the chairs to accommodate him. How hard is it to provide this for this one person. You say, but it is just one person. Is there not a Bible story about Jesus taking off to go find that one lost sheep. Do we need to loose this one sheep because we are too selfish? And it is not like we are not aware of this one person's needs.

My list could go on and on. There are a lot of things and people that irritate me, but I try each day to put those irritations at the feet of my Jesus. I am sure those that don't invite me any more I have been an irritation to them.

This holiday I have been more than humbled by how Abba Father has brought little things I have done this year to be a healing balm to my being. A coworker said she was thankful for me because of something I said to encourage her. The mother of a coworker called me to thank me for a trashy happy I had given her. All in all these are the things that make those little irritations melt away, well most of them.

As the Holidays are upon us I am a rich woman for those that have come through my life. I get up every morning thankful for another day. I am thankful for grandchildren that show me how to enjoy the everyday and how to laugh. I am thankful for those friends and family who love me right like I am with all my little irritating habits. I am thankful for my Abba Father that embraces me and wraps me up in His arms guiding me through each and everyday. Who when no one else wanted me, He wanted me.

If you are waiting for someone else to give you a reason to be happy and joyful this Holiday Season - Don't! You are the only one that can do so. Get up - put the "Feel Sorry, Pity Party Hats" away and be glad you have another day to be a live and make someone else smile!

Oh and let me tell you a secret! It's not about you anyway, it is not about me either. It is all about what you do and say to make the difference in someone else's life. Even that checker at the store who never smiles.

I don't know what your life is about nor what irritates you but I wish each one of you a very Wonderful Holiday Season filled with great memories and meaningful reflections. . . . .