The Little Things Can Mean So Much
When itemizing those things we are grateful for, we’ll often list things that money affords, like our home, car, food, clothes, electronics, and those things that add to our comfort. Since my washer and dryer are 25+ years old, I thank God each time I get my washing and drying done, But this Thanksgiving week, my gratitude goes way beyond the big “things”. I’ve come to realize that the little things, that money can’t buy, mean so much!
Thanksgiving usually brings families “home”. “Home” isn’t necessarily the brick and mortar of the home we live in. For example, my oldest grandson and wife, and 2nd oldest grandson didn’t make it to Frisco this year and that’s okay. They were “home” where they were. I’ve realized “home” is WHERE I AM at the time. Home is Austin, Frisco, Tulsa and anything in between where I “light”. Home is family, friends, church, the places where “the little things” are really the big things.
My Frisco family and I and an invited guest had our traditional Thanksgiving meal and celebration on Thursday. My “Austin” family, on their way to Muldrow, OK to celebrate Thanksgiving with Shawntel’s family, detoured to Tulsa to see Granny for a couple of hours. Granny is my husband’s Mom, and at 96, though she’s still sharp-as-a-tack and moving about, we just don’t know if it could be the last time, so spending time with her is so important. It’s the little things that mean so much.
Then they traveled to spend time with Shawntel’s family where 54 family members gathered at her precious 90-year old grandmother’s home for their traditional Thanksgiving meal and celebration. The little things that are really huge things to a sweet grandmother. Then, they made their way to Frisco where I had Bryson’s “traditional” scavenger hunt ready for his birthday that was on November 17th. The four cousins helped him decipher the clues and find the treasure. Yesterday’s hunt won treasures for all of them – including the wax lips. LOL! My traditional day-after-Thanksgiving Waikiki meatballs were on the menu. Today, we’re heading to the Wallace’s for breakfast of huevos rancheros then we’ll go to a movie — another family tradition. We’ll have our traditional Mexican food for lunch. It’s the little things that mean so much.
Thanksgiving traditions always included my annual family photo being taken. It was a must do that everyone tolerated and because it meant so much to me — they always complied. I was excited that my big milestone birthday in August meant I could let the family off the hook for another photo. But, my two sweet girls, without my usual need-to-plead, wrangled up everyone for a quick Thanksgiving photo. They know it’s the little things that mean so much to me.
It won’t be long before all these grandkids will be grown up with families of their own, so I realize these little things, little traditions; little intentional, purposeful moments mean so much. Yes, I’m so grateful for the blessings of the simple, little things and family and friends that keep reminding me that the greatest blessings on earth come without a price tag.
How often is it that the BIG things are what stresses us out? Notice that the things that fill our hearts with warmth are things that we didn’t have to look far to find. It means learning to live our lives as if everything were a miracle, and being aware of how much we’ve been given. Gratitude shifts our focus from what our life lacks, to the abundance of what we already have. Maybe, the best prescription we could take to dispel the common “woe-is-me” attitude is to offer thanksgiving for the “little things”.