A Moment of Gratitude by Bonita Robinson

November 26th! IT’S THANKSGIVING! Thank the Lord in heaven that I don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to give thanks or to recognize the goodness of God. I am a witness that to be thankful is to be in the will of God. Thank you for your word. I know first hand the power of a grateful heart. I know that being thankful means being faithful. That being thankful means no bitterness. That being thankful means loving instead of hating. That being thankful puts the focus on God and not on the situation. I am grateful today for my relationship with Jesus! 

I am thankful for my husband, our marriage, bond, and commitment to each other. He is my sure thing. My support and encourager. I am thankful for our children and their families. I am thankful for every experience with them-- both small and great, both challenging and joyous, both in laughter and sorrow. Our clan!  

I am thankful for my momma, my sister, and my little brother. Lord knows--that’s my pack. Those are the people who hold the keys to my heart. They are the ones who challenge me the most. They are my foundation, and boy, do I love my three and their children. What a blessing to be a part of so much love. 

I am thankful for the influence and stability that was my grandma! Lord Jesus, thank you for that wall of protection. Thank you for the fruit of her prayers. Thank you for her presence in my life. Oh my, I loved that lady with my entire heart. If there was ever an anchor to a family, a center to a whole, she was it. Boy, do I miss her. I miss her, especially during this time of year. She loved Thanksgiving and Christmas. What a time we used to have. Nothing we have done as a family replicates those holidays spent at Grandma’s house. I am thankful for those beautiful, beautiful memories. I am grateful for my aunts and uncles, their influence, and their love for me. Their protection. Their subtleness. Their handprints are all over who I am today. They are the carbon in my footprint. Their spirits, neatly woven into the fabric of who I am today. 

I am thankful for my cousins. My cousins. I love them. Our cousins are the folks in our lives that we couldn’t get enough of as children—a universal feeling.  My cousins were my playmates, my secret holders, my friends-- the siblings that I really wanted. LOL!. If you could trace the origin of my happiness and joy and laughter, you would find all of my cousins. Beautiful people. I am thankful for them.  

I am thankful for mom (Wilma) and the rest of the Bond/Forbes gang. My second family. They have loved me as if I were their own. I am thankful for their kindness towards me. I am grateful for the relationships and bonds that have been created and molded. The seeds in this circle have deep, deep roots. So thankful. 

My friends: Those day to day folks who stand in the gap and show up every day. For these folks, I am thankful. They know you have bones buried somewhere, but they accept you anyway. They pull you in and make room for you in the complexity of their selves. Those are friends. I am Thankful for those individuals--God bless them and keep them. 

Happy Thanksgiving. It looks different. But if you close your eyes and get still in your spirit, you will recognize that it carries the same spirit of togetherness that it always has. I acknowledge that it’s not the traditional way in which we celebrate. It’s not the norm to spend thanksgiving without an entire clan clamoring around in a hot kitchen, sneaking loose pieces of turkey and remnants left in a bowl of sweet potato pie filling. It’s different-- But the spirit of thanksgiving still belongs to having a grateful heart. SO here’s to us!

Here’s to sustainability. Here’s to giving time to bask in the loves of our life, those here and those who God has called home. Let us recognize that God has been good. That his hand is still on the ball, and he has total control. When he takes his shot--he won’t miss. We win! Be patient, be merciful, offer grace, show love, and enjoy Thanksgiving by making new memories and being thankful.