Family - Famiglia

This week has so many of us feeling a bit lost. It should be a week of cleaning and cooking, planning and preparing on a larger scale than usual. But most of us will be at home, with our usual people, weathering the storm of Covid - zooming away with family far and wide. It’s not what we thought we’d be doing this year, but here we are.

I know there is grief - it’s not over lost pumpkin pie or lumpy gravy, it’s over our families, friends and life before Covid. I listened to a podcast today - it was so sad and made me sad over things I hadn’t been sad about before. So, even before I was fully awake, I was crying about not being able to see my family this weekend or cleaning my house before 60 people descended, or cooking for that crowd, or managing beautiful chaos. I know. Most people would run from any of that. But I run TO it!

I had to laugh at myself though. Why was I crying when I know that this is temporary and everyone is okay and each of us will have a lovely meal and we will zoom before the weekend is over? I was crying because it’s being together that we miss. Hugs, kisses, holding babies, clinking our glasses, laughing till we cry, reminiscing - all this is so much better in person. It’s hard to capture all that on zoom. So, I decided to let myself feel sad. I tried at least. It didn’t last long.

I started thinking of all the creative ways to reach out this weekend to family and friends. I have some games to play, funny conversation starters, ways to share cooking and food, stories and memories. I will do the same for Christmas and if I have to, Easter as well. My hope is in that vaccine and good behavior, patience, kindness and continued creativity in how to live well in a pandemic. We can do this!

I don’t know what you have planned for the week, but I encourage you in the midst of your sadness to look for joy in unexpected places. See where God is at work and where goodness and generosity are evident. We are to be the light that shines in the darkness and to lift up our families, friends and those in need of a glimpse of hope and a taste of joy.

So make your celebration even more joyful and memorable! Make your meals extra tasty and double the batch so you can share. Offer thanksgiving with more gratitude and don’t just hold it in your heart, share it with those who need to hear it!

My family will be just fine this year. Fiorello’s have weathered a few storms . But when we do come together - I know for a fact there will be new babies to meet, teenagers to hug, siblings to tease and new renditions of Grandpa Lou’s mostaccioli and pasta foagioli. I am looking forward to THAT day, but until then, my prayer for both you and me is that we live in the light. That our joy be contagious and that we can live into gratitude for all we have, all we are, and all that is to come.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Jane

Photo by Rodolfo Clix from Pexels