I went to three Thanksgiving meals recently and while there were similarities there were also differences such as what it looked like and who was there. “How was your Thanksgiving?” Maybe you have found that the answer to this question ranges widely for everyone. The expressions in the response are filled with a sense of relief, exhaustion, or joy.
There’s so much cultural hype before the holidays, but then the follow up question “How was your Thanksgiving?” may be filled with layers of stressful family dynamics, expectations, or heartache. Much hype before hand needs to be balanced out with much openness in conversation afterward. So, ask your friends and be open when they ask you.
I don’t know what your table looks like this year for the holidays. Maybe it looks like a party of 1 or a party of 30. Maybe the food is homemade or maybe it’s take out. Maybe the china was your grandma’s or maybe it is paper plates. Maybe there is laughter and joy because your family loves to spend time together, or maybe there is stress because of countless reasons. Maybe last year looked completely different compared to this year.
I do not know what your table looks like, but I know that your table should not be compared. Do not compare what it looks like or who is there. Behind whatever perfect or ideal table that you are comparing yours to, lies much hard work between imperfect people.
Ecclesiastes 3 has it right when it talks about a time for everything: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
What time is your table in?
You are not alone.