Posted on Nov 24, 2016 7:43 AMThanksgiving is a treasured holiday from my childhood past. As I look back through the years the holiday seemed more important for its historical significance, as well as its faith based origins. In my thoughts I can remember the happiness and comfort of neighborhood friendships and family bonds. The Thanksgiving day meal was a very special occasion marked by overcrowded tables, benches and chairs; and the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen area.
Foods sometimes included roasted wild pheasants and ducks along with traditional roast turkey stuffed with a wonderful cornbread-onion-sage dressing. There were dishes of green beans, pickled beets, mashed potatoes, buttered corn and slaw. Hot biscuits or fresh cornbread complemented the wild raspberry jelly and home churned butter perfectly. Homemade apple or berry cobblers were set out for deserts.
After mealtime the balance of the day was spent in clean-up, coffee, conversation and relaxation. There were no malls, internet or television hysteria!
Today we seem to have drifted away from those traditions. Again, I feel we’re losing so much as we move away from our cherished holidays and the true meanings behind them. I realize too that I must now consider myself as part of another, out-of-date, senior generation so vastly different from the current crop of youngsters.
And, when I see the ’normal’ practices of slick TV ads, ’black Friday’ insanity and news videos of stampeding people rushing to get their hands on a material item, I feel sad! There have even been reports of people killed in recent years during these rituals. Sad! I know the holiday means different things to different people. For myself I am grateful to God for the abundance of blessings and friends HE has given to me. I am even more appreciative of the my wonderful family and neighbors. These are the things I wish for everyone this Thanksgiving season at NGA around the world.
May everyone have and enjoy a safe and blessed holiday.
