Finding the Thanks in Thanksgiving

I have friend whose daughter is fighting cancer. Wow, what a dark way to start a 'finding thanks' post but hear me out. She found a fantastic story comparing cancer to being chased by a mountain lion. In that story she says "Then, you see somebody being chased by a mountain lion the size of a monster truck....." and describes how thankful you are that is NOT your mountain lion.

"You don't have to look very far to find somebody worse off than you are". Even when hope was fading, Reid would find a situation that would bring him back to that place.

Why is this perspective so moving?
1. We are inspired by people who can find light in the darkest times.
2. Gratitude is simply a better place to be.

There are plenty of hospital stays, anniversaries of this and that, health crisis' and waves of grief.. plenty of opportunities for us to experience the very normal feeling of  anger about the hand we are dealt. It's a natural place to go and sometimes we absolutely need to be in that anger and sadness....but we can't stay there. They don't want us to.

To the parents with the courageous kid fighting cancer, she doesn't want you to stay there.
To those longing for their parents, they don't want you to stay there.
Reid once told me "I'm not afraid to die. I'm afraid of leaving you.". If I stay there, I am living out his biggest fear and I cannot do that. He doesn't want me to.

Easier said than done? Yes and no.

I believe that Reid's quote and the Mountain Lion are both strategies to keep us from getting lost in the dark places. They are tools to help us find gratitude because it is a healing place we need to be. Gratitude is so important to us we have an entire day.....weekend....to dedicate to being Thankful. Of course, there is all kinds of history but really, today,  it's about thanks. We simply share food, fun, time and joy with those closest to us. Some play football- some watch it. Some go shopping- some don't. Some travel far to get there- more on that Wednesday than ANY other day. Many of us get a 4 day weekend-the only one of the entire year. We don't exchange gifts. We don't hide candy or hope for a giant bunny or a jolly man to stop by. There are no fireworks and no leprechauns. No. We give and experience thanks for each other in our own way. That's all.

This can be a challenge for those in the midst of crisis or loss but it can also be an opportunity to have a day free of the darker place. The effort is so very worth it and so are you.