37 - A Small Thanksgiving Message
Well… It’s here again.
I tried to ignore it, but it came anyway.
You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?
You don’t?
I’m talking about Thanksgiving.
That wonderful holiday that is supposed to be all about giving thanks. But who are we kidding? It’s about the food. Specific foods.
It’s about being thankful for hot buttered rolls. And creamy mashed potatoes. And warm pumpkin pie piled high with whipped cream. THAT’S what Thanksgiving is about.
If it was about the company and giving thanks, Charlie Brown’s friends would have been happy with popcorn, toast and candy.
But they weren’t.
Because it’s about the food.
I started my list for the store. I’m trying to be on top of things, but I’m running a little behind. Like, I’ve thought about it for a while, but didn’t put anything down on paper until this week.
I wrote down all of the major dishes: turkey (of course), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, some sort of roasted vegetable, stuffing, pumpkin pie, apple pie.
Then, I started writing down the supplies needed for each dish. This is where it got tricky.
Turkey: turkey, olive oil, fresh rosemary.
Mashed potatoes: …
This is where it started falling apart. Everyone likes mashed potatoes, but not everyone can have dairy. Should I use my dairy-free butter substitute and oat milk? My daughter got a stomach ache one time from using the substitute. It could have been from something else, but do we want to take that chance on Thanksgiving? I’ll make two separate bowls.
Sweet potatoes: Hmm…should I make the brown sugar-crusted ones that require butter? I could use palm shortening as a substitute. We’ve done that before, it just isn’t as good. Maybe I should just roast them?
Roasted veg: whatever looks good at the store
Stuffing: …
This one is always hard because everyone loves stuffing, but I can’t find a mix that everyone can have. The past couple of years, I’ve even had a hard time finding a loaf of bread that everyone can eat. I have to make the bread from scratch, so I can then make stuffing. I wonder how far in advance I can make the bread so it’s ready to go?
Pumpkin pie: …
When I make it with my handy-dandy egg substitute (aquafaba), it doesn’t set up. It’s more like pudding. Which isn’t bad… but isn’t really a pie. Maybe I can figure out a way to add agar agar to get it to set up…
Apple pie: apples and lemon juice
Ok, so I’m sort of ready with a food plan.
But is it just about the food? Or is it the food AND the company?
One of the traditions that I haven’t understood is everyone coming together. Even if someone is a jerk, you invite them. Even if someone doesn’t ever help, you invite them. Even if someone makes racist remarks and starts political fights, you invite them. It’s just what you do.
Why?
Why do we do that?
I’ve noticed a trend lately, where people have stopped accepting this as the norm. Maybe they are tired of always being picked on. Maybe they are tired of constantly being harassed and ridiculed. Maybe they don’t want to stare at the clock, calculating when it’s appropriate to leave. So they make an excuse and don’t go at all.
Is that ok?
It absolutely is!
Maybe I think this way because I have a very low tolerance for friction. Like, zero. That’s my sweet spot.
Maybe it’s because I have enough stomach troubles, without adding an upset stomach from people fighting.
Maybe it’s because I give myself a hard enough time, without others adding to it.
A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.-Proverbs 17:1
Whether you are a religious person or not, there is wisdom in that verse!
I’m not saying everyone should close their doors and be by themselves this holiday. Of course not! That’s silly!! I’m just saying if you need to do something else, something different, that’s ok.
So whatever you need to do this Thanksgiving, do it. Whether it is having a houseful, a small handful, or yourself, celebrate how you need to. If you want to have a banquet, a small meal, or just a bowl of popcorn, celebrate how you need to.
Eat what you want, surrounded by the people you love.
You are allowed.
I give you permission!
Because you are worthy of peace and joy!!