It’s feeling a little strange, isn’t it? We usually have a gathering of at least 12-15 people at Thanksgiving, but like many of you, we are staying separated from some of our family. There will just be the five of us: hubby, son, daughter, son-in-law, and me.
Don’t get me wrong, there is still so much that makes me thankful. We are healthy; we can afford to make a wonderful Thanksgiving meal (2 chefs among the 5 of us – also quite helpful); we live in an age when communication is really easy, even with those who have to stay distanced; and it is nice to spend a few days with just the five of us. Even listing those things makes me feel a little more cheery.
But, I can’t shake some of the disappointment and concern. Everything is risky. How will we get the groceries without running into people who don’t follow masking suggestions? What if it’s really crowded at the store? We planned to do curbside pickup, but there are no pickup times available around here until Friday.
I sometimes feel guilty for letting such trivial things bother me, but I’m learning to take them to prayer. One thing I’ve realized is that God wants to hear all of it, good and bad. Nothing is too trivial. We were made for relationship with God, and it wouldn’t be much of a relationship if we had to hide negative feelings. God knows our hearts, anyway, so we might as well talk about it.
So, I’m sharing my frustration with God tonight. I’m praying that the Holy Spirit will guide someone to a solution soon so we can get past this stupid pandemic. I’m praying that everyone will have a joyful and festive holiday. In the meantime, I’ll keep working on my attitude. Who knows, God might quiet my heart and lead me to peace by morning!