I Am A Grateful Person - Approaching Thanksgiving

There is a serendipity about life.  Inspiration comes from various places.  This morning in my cyberspace wanderings I came upon this quote that gave me pause:

Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.
―Frederick Buechner

Today, after a quick run to the Farmers' Market, I will spend most of my day in the kitchen.  Tomorrow, Jay and I will go to my son's home to share in a Thanksgiving buffet with members of our family and Milli's family.  So this afternoon I will prepare my contributions to the feast.  And as my hands, my fingers, are engaged in my chopping, kneading, sauteing I know that my mind will be just as busy working the thoughts of remembrance which is what this holiday seems to trigger in me.  I will recall the past year, all that has occurred in my life since our last Thanksgiving.  I will recall the faces of the all the people I hold dear.  I will recall the times that filled my heart with joy: Jay, his presence, his head next to mine on the pillow, his consistently bringing me my morning cup of coffee; the radiance of Gabriel at all of his school events, his hockey games, his sleep-overs; my regular walks and heart talks with my friend, Cindy; the satisfaction of learning knew skills, conquering a new computer, knitting a new pattern; little jaunts like our week in Napa shared with Jayne;  the family dinners around my kitchen table with my children; the reconnection with old, dear friends like Julie and Theresa. 

I will also recall those moments that filled my heart with pain, those times when I thought my heart would literally break like the recent death of my mother. The times when someone I loved was ill or facing the loss of a job or overcome with loneliness or depression or struggling with decisions about an elderly parent. The times when I felt so powerless to change what life was presenting.

This past week I was gifted with a moment of joy when my youngest son, Marc, asked his love, Charlotte, to be his wife.  This son has waited a long time to take this step.  I think all parents really want in life for their children is their happiness.  I am fortunate in that I have grown very fond of the woman who has captured his heart.  Charlotte has a beautiful warm spirit that draws you in.  As for Marc,  my heart filled as I watched his face and his excitement. I love who Marc is when he is with Charlotte.

Congratulations to Marc and Charlotte!!

The Italians have a lovely phrase for events like this...those moments when your heart fills, moments where there are no words. They say "È una bella cosa!"  It is a thing of beauty!

Italians are also known to have a sense of fatalism...that little gene that during the beautiful times continues to whisper in my ear, "Be alert, be ready, because this will not last forever and the difficult times might be just around the corner."

I know there is an ebb and flow to life and I know that I am powerless to effect how or when things will occur.  In my life's journey I am continuing to learn that all I can do is show up and try to be 100% present to life in the moment and to trust that this too will pass, the beautiful and the terrible,  and all things will move toward ultimate good.  Today, I am grateful!