’twas the week of Thanksgiving

‘Twas the week of Thanksgiving, and all through our house,

We were so very thankful- Joe just caught the mouse!

With a turkey in the freezer righ

 

t next to the deer,

Waiting for family- love when they’re here.

 

The children were nestled in four different places,

While visions of school exams whitened

 

their faces;

Joe was out hunting while I was at home,

A sweet time to reflect- when I’m alone.

 

Coming from my mind there arose such a clatter,

I stopped in my tracks- what was the matter?

I sat down with my coffee and Kleenexes, too,

 

I felt overwhelmed, so much to do…

 

The list on the counter overflowing with stuff

Gave the luster of despair; I’m just not enough.

When what to my wondering eyes did I see,

But the mugs the girls used- now stained with tea.

 

Into the dishwasher so easily cleaned

Seeing things

 

differently, my teary eyes gleamed.

More rapid than eagles my doubts turned to praise,

I thanked the good Lord for these crazy days.

 

There’s Jenna, then Abby,

Next Anna and Joe,

Samuel and Zebbie,

 

Where’d the dogs go??

 

Packing lunches, making dinner,

More

 

groceries they need,

How blessed am I-

So many mouths to feed!

 

As moms that before the mad holiday rush,

When lists get too long, we just need to hush;

So back to what matters I made myself think

They’ll remember our laughter, not dishes in the sink.

 

And then, in a twinkling, I put down the mop

I turned off the vacuum and let myself stop.

I remembered my blessings instead of what’s wrong,

Not who I

 

wasn’t, but to whom I belong.

 

He came here to save me from the messes of life,

When I fail as a mom and stink as a wife.

Four decades of striving to get things just right,

I still cannot do it, try as I might.

 

Though plans doesn’t always turn out as we thought,

We holler and complain and are greedy a lot,

It isn’t too late

 

and you aren’t a lost cause,

Don’t beat yourself up, just take a pause.

 

Jesus- He knows us! And wants us in spite

Of our mishaps and mess-ups, not getting things right.

It isn’t at all about being the “best,”

Just love Him and others, and He’ll do the rest.

 

He gave us His word with instructions for living,

To think les

s of ourselves and more about giving,

And laying His hands open wide on the tree,

“I love you,” He said. (Even to me!)

 

So today I give thanks for my family and more,

For living in gratitude- I didn’t do this before.

Now I exclaim before we eat more than we should,

“Happy Thanksgiving to all! God sure is good.”