Elise Skidmore

It’s that’s time of year again. The holidays are upon us and everyone will be on a mad dash to Christmas. But today it’s Thanksgiving, a day of family, friends, and feasting. Let’s take a deep breath and remember to count our blessings. We all have things to be grateful for. Even if life isn’t going just the way we’d like it to be, there are always people in worse shape than we are. So be thankful for the little things, they add up to a big life. And if you can help someone who’s in a need, reach out and make the world a kinder place

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas used to be my favorite holiday,

but as time goes by I find Thanksgiving

has taken over that place of honor.

Old traditions fall by the wayside

and Christmas has become

the holy grail of consumerism.

Thanksgiving sits quietly between

Halloween and the December holidays.

It doesn’t ask you to put on crazy costumes

or stockpile candy or build a haunted mansion.

It doesn’t shout, “Buy this and your family will love you!”

It doesn’t chant, “Gimme, gimme, gimme!

 

Thanksgiving, by comparison,

is quiet and unassuming.

It suggests you have a fine feast;

turkey is traditional, but by no means mandatory.

Thanksgiving asks that you

gather with those you love,

spend time together without the pressure

or expense of gift giving.

In a soft voice it reminds us to be

thankful for all the blessings in our lives.

It wants us to remember the moments of joy,

and reach out to share with others.

 

The champions of consumerism

don’t care for Thanksgiving much.

Other than buying more food,

they can’t quite figure out how

to get a bigger pay off.

They try to encroach on its message

of family togetherness

with Black Friday sales that start on Thursday.

 

For my part, I won’t be falling prey to their tactics.

I will gather with my family,

sharing love, laughter, and a fine meal.

I have much to be thankful for;

having a day set aside to remember that

is a one more blessing for me to count.

 

~Elise Skidmore ©2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!