The Day of reflection, thanksgiving and praise.
On an average holiday, you give a quick shout out to God for the things of which we are thankful for,
then stuff our face with traditional holiday food amongst the presence of your loved ones.
Nothing bad with the above.
Today however, God shed some light into my heart,
I thought I was thankful
I thought I understood the blessings that he pours out on my family
daily.
But no, once again I have fallen short, and he has revealed to me
an overwhelming abundance of praise.
Today, began as a traditional Thanksgiving. I woke up early, got myself and the kids dressed, and we joined in the annual walk for hunger in downtown Stockton. Afterwards, we came home and watched the Macy's day parade, before Brandon and I decided to take the kids out for a movie whereupon we watched Disney's Frozen. My favorite part was watching my kids reaction to the movie...this is Hannah's 4th time to the movie theater, Zechi's 3rd, and Tabitha's 2nd. Their eyes were wide with awe at the magic of the moment.
Afterwards, we were on route to My Aunt Val's for the traditional turkey feast. However, Brandon and I were so engaged in discussion we missed the turn, and decided to make a U-turn one street past their's. The street however was not a street, but a rubbled road along the levee. Since there was no turnaround point, we decided to venture further down and we came upon a shocking discovery: One of Stockton's Shanty towns.
I have been to other countries of the world-Costa Rica and India come to mind when I think of Shanty towns. Rubble and garbage piled into makeshift homes. Call me naïve, but I did not know such a thing existed here in my own home city. Sure, I have seen the occasional tent, or the boxes in the park here and there, even see the pan-handlers and homeless on the street. I don't know where I thought these people lived, but driving along the levee today and seeing homes built out of anything and everything and tent after tent after tent with living occupants damn well put things into perspective. And you know what, power to them for having a place to call "home." There is water for a cleaning and fishing source, dogs on leashes for protection, even an occasional clothing line.
Brandon and I were speechless as we drove through the scene. Here we are dressed in our best in our new car with our entres packed in a bag in the trunk to share with our family, amongst these peers of our city. I swear if I had the means I was ready to go home, bake a turkey and bring it back to share with the least of these. But we just drove on. Until a man that we recognized flagged our car down.
I silently hesitated at his motives of course, my kids in the car, and we so far off the main road, but Brandon, my loving husband that he is, pulled over and rolled down his window. The man needed a jump for his car, my husband agreed got out and dirtied his hands to help the man out. The man, was the pan handler that I drive past nearly every day coming home from work, he frequents either Ben Holt just before I-5 or Hammer and Kelly near the Carl's Jr.
The man thanked Brandon after they got the car running and shook Brandon's hand. I couldn't help but notice the layers of filth and grime coating the man's hand, his finger nails long and unkempt. Brandon did not hesitate to clasp his hand around the stranger's, Looked him in the eye and wished him a Happy Thanksgiving. The man replied "God bless you."
Shortly up the road, we found a spot large enough to turn around. And so we did, and made our way back to my Aunt's.
Upon arriving Brandon and I were caught in thought. Caught in Thanksgiving. Thankful for a house that we are blessed to live in and call our home. Thankful that I have never had to be homeless, and Brandon expressed the same thanks as well, although he (as many do not know) knows what it is like to be homeless.
We walked in, the kids ran off to play with their cousins, and I began to prepare my course of contribution. Neither of us sharing the experience with anyone, yet neither of us being able to shake the images we had just witnessed nor the deep feelings of gratitude for all of God's blessings in our lives.
We enjoyed our day. We ate our meal. But my stomach could not handle more than one plateful (that I was unable to finish). It would not allow me the gluttonous tendencies of natural tradition.
At the end of the day we came home. Hannah stayed with her Ommie for the night, Tabby zonked out upon arrival and Zechi and I stayed home while Brandon went out to make a few visitations to the youth he is currently mentoring. While at home, Zechi was watching a movie and I was checking my facebook when I came upon another piece of news that again made me more than thankful. I learned that my girls, my previous foster children, spent their Thanksgiving eating a meal provided to them by a local homeless shelter. My heart was sad.
Again, super thankful that we live in a city that provides such a blessing to other families. But, this one hits home. This is not "another" family. This family feels like MY family. And I just realized once again how thankful I am. That I too have a family, I have food to provide for my family, I have a roof for my family to sleep under, I have....I have....I have....I have....
There is nothing that I need that I don't have. I have never been in need of things that I don't have. I have always had....My future looks as though I will always have....
I have never considered myself to be materialistic. But wow. I have so much, too much? I Pray that I can teach my children to realize that our haves are blessings form God, and that my children do not grown up spoiled by their haves but grow to be humble, appreciative, thankful.
At my Aunt Val's we wrote our thanksgivings on a small piece of paper. I did not know where to begin. I invited my kids to partake in the festivities as well Hannah being thankful for horses, ponies, unicorns and Lions. Cute, she's four. But when I asked Zechi what he was thankful for, he replied without hesitation: "Jesus." Nailed it!
Yes, I too am Thankful for Jesus. I am thankful that he is thankful for Jesus. I am thankful....
Saddened by the news of my girls' thanksgiving whereabouts, I logged off the computer. Zechi notices and asked "mommy, you play with me?" Of course son. He and I played for an hour upstairs, the whole while I basked in thankfulness.
The man thanked Brandon after they got the car running and shook Brandon's hand. I couldn't help but notice the layers of filth and grime coating the man's hand, his finger nails long and unkempt. Brandon did not hesitate to clasp his hand around the stranger's, Looked him in the eye and wished him a Happy Thanksgiving. The man replied "God bless you."
Shortly up the road, we found a spot large enough to turn around. And so we did, and made our way back to my Aunt's.
Upon arriving Brandon and I were caught in thought. Caught in Thanksgiving. Thankful for a house that we are blessed to live in and call our home. Thankful that I have never had to be homeless, and Brandon expressed the same thanks as well, although he (as many do not know) knows what it is like to be homeless.
We walked in, the kids ran off to play with their cousins, and I began to prepare my course of contribution. Neither of us sharing the experience with anyone, yet neither of us being able to shake the images we had just witnessed nor the deep feelings of gratitude for all of God's blessings in our lives.
We enjoyed our day. We ate our meal. But my stomach could not handle more than one plateful (that I was unable to finish). It would not allow me the gluttonous tendencies of natural tradition.
At the end of the day we came home. Hannah stayed with her Ommie for the night, Tabby zonked out upon arrival and Zechi and I stayed home while Brandon went out to make a few visitations to the youth he is currently mentoring. While at home, Zechi was watching a movie and I was checking my facebook when I came upon another piece of news that again made me more than thankful. I learned that my girls, my previous foster children, spent their Thanksgiving eating a meal provided to them by a local homeless shelter. My heart was sad.
Again, super thankful that we live in a city that provides such a blessing to other families. But, this one hits home. This is not "another" family. This family feels like MY family. And I just realized once again how thankful I am. That I too have a family, I have food to provide for my family, I have a roof for my family to sleep under, I have....I have....I have....I have....
There is nothing that I need that I don't have. I have never been in need of things that I don't have. I have always had....My future looks as though I will always have....
I have never considered myself to be materialistic. But wow. I have so much, too much? I Pray that I can teach my children to realize that our haves are blessings form God, and that my children do not grown up spoiled by their haves but grow to be humble, appreciative, thankful.
At my Aunt Val's we wrote our thanksgivings on a small piece of paper. I did not know where to begin. I invited my kids to partake in the festivities as well Hannah being thankful for horses, ponies, unicorns and Lions. Cute, she's four. But when I asked Zechi what he was thankful for, he replied without hesitation: "Jesus." Nailed it!
Yes, I too am Thankful for Jesus. I am thankful that he is thankful for Jesus. I am thankful....
Saddened by the news of my girls' thanksgiving whereabouts, I logged off the computer. Zechi notices and asked "mommy, you play with me?" Of course son. He and I played for an hour upstairs, the whole while I basked in thankfulness.
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