Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday because the focus is on being together with loved ones and considering gratitude rather than how much stuff can we buy. It's quieter and more contemplative. The older I get the more I like that. This year all my children are living at home once again and for the second year we actually won't be headed down to the big extended family holiday. I'll miss my aunts, uncles, and cousins but we also have the chance to take things at our preferred speed.
Though we are not Jewish we have some friends with whom we have frequently celebrated Hannukkah. It's always been a rich and lovely time together. Often even when we are not together our family lights a menorah and enjoys a meal of latkes at least one night of the eight.
Today is a once in a lifetime convergence of Thanksgiving and the First Night of Hanukkah. I think the next convergence will be in something like 10,000 years or something. What's a millennia here or there?
My friends, you all know it's been a hell of a year with some intensely scary times. It's also been a year of blessings. I've found support in new places from new people. I've been able to retain supportive ties from old friends in old places. I've seen a new community for myself assembled from such divergent groups of people I never could have imagined it. I received a new level of support and love from two people in my life who I long ago stopped expecting it from. It's unlikely I'd have seen it all so clearly without the great struggle which necessitated such help. So for that I give thanks.
On this once in a lifetime night though I think one of the First Night blessings sums up the biggest count-worthy thing of all, one for which we can all give thanks.
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh. (Amein)
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season. Amen.
My friends, I count you among those whom God has used to sustain me and I give thanks for you. May you each be blessed tonight and all nights for the love you have given.
23 comments:
Happy Thanksgiving; that's a beautiful blessing :)
A wonderful sentiment. Happy Thanksgiving.
This is beautiful, Michelle. At a time when I'm feeling so isolated from my family and my roots, I appreciate the Hanukkah prayer which accompanies the lighting of the menorah. Thank you for this gift.
Wishing you and yours a beautiful Thanksgiving.
Amen!!!
The fact that you are able to give blessings in many religions and with so much generosity is wonderful. You are wise and have fought your battles well.
Happy Thanksgiving weekend!
We just bought a tiny menorah for our DIL's visit this weekend. Your Hebrew words remind me that I was asked to try to say a few words in Hebrew at the wedding. I didn't do so well.
Very nice thoughts
Absolutely lovely. Much to be thankful for, even in difficult/stressful times. And it takes a special person to count the blessing in the midst of trials. Well done, you!
Hope your Thanksgiving was every thing you hoped it would be!
actually it will happen again in 57 years… but many of us won't be here for that. Thanks for your post and apply Thanksgiving.
wait until you get my bill....
Thank you, my friend. I consider you one of my great blessings. We shall share another glass full of lemons at the Pleasant Cafe someday soon!
Thanks for this. Especially the Hebrew. Because my birth-mother is Jewish, our family has incorporated the Shabbat candle-lighting prayer into our own Lord's Day prayers. Rich. . .
A lovely post - you are blessed even in times of stress. It takes a wise person to be mindful of gratitude even when things don't go so well. Thank you for the reminder!
A beautiful read! I am visiting from Hilary's blog, btw, so congrats on the POTW! I didn't know about Thanksgivukkah; very, very interesting!
This was a lovely post. Thank you and likewise.
And a very happy Thanksgiving to you!
And a very happy Thanksgiving to you!
Happy Thanksgivukkah!
Off-topic but I don't know how to reach you: are you connected with the recently-expired website HouseofLime.com? I have a question about rights to a font they designed. Thanks, Michael
Well, look at you. I'm the original Thanksgiving crank, yet you just gave me chills.
If you kept at it, you'd have me loving Thansgiving in under five years; I'm sure of it.
author, no relation to the font people here. just a coincidence of name similarity.
My Jewish DIL was home this year. We call it Christmakkuh.
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