Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Wednesday, November 24, 2010

If You Feed Them, They Will Come

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I have learned, in the years since my mother "gifted" me the Thanksgiving meal, that if I cook, my family will come. They are not picky about what they eat (well, maybe a little), but (unfortunately for me) I am. Each dish must be just right, and there must be just the right combination of all our favorite things.

This week is the Super Bowl of food...the culmination of all our favorite things to eat, and (hopefully) all our favorite people. I admit that I have a hard time with this week. I plan, and I cook, and I clean, and they come and they eat. All the work and it's over in 20 minutes. And my family all act as if we roasted wienies over the fire -- it was no big deal, right?

Pride is always getting in the way of just enjoying the holiday and appreciating the fact that my family even wants to see me at all.

Damn that Adam and Eve.

And thus, tonight I am headed to Adoration, to beg for the graces necessary to make it through tomorrow with a smile on my face and my pride hidden somewhere at the bottom of the garbage can under the potato peels.

As my dear girlfriend Joanie just said this morning, I shall be Mary before I am Martha.

I'll be praying for your holiday, too, dear friends. For your safe travels, and those of your dear families, and the moistest, tastiest bird ever (and lots of happy compliments for you, too)!   ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving.


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5 comments:

  1. Blessed Thanksgiving to you too Barb, you are smart to go to adoration.

    I drive everyone nuts when I host, probably why another family member does Thanksgiving....

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  2. This is how I feel too!
    They love the meal, but I think they have NO IDEA what goes into it all!
    But it's all good, right?
    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  3. I laughed outloud when I read that Adam and Eve part!

    I feel exactly the same way. The guests we have do not even help with the dishes. This year, I am making the big kids help though.
    Usually by the time I'm done with cleaning up, everyone else is ready for snacks, or a light supper!

    Great idea to go to Adoration tonight, I need to do that too.(except we are in winter advisories for sleet/ice/snow all day) Mass at 9am tomorrow will help...smelling like a turkey.

    Happy Thanksgiving!!
    Praying you are noticed and helped tomorrow, I'll be thinking (and sweating) with you in spirit!

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  4. God Bless You Barbara for all the work (translated: love) you give your family in this way.

    I know it doesn't seem like they care, and when I have that feeling, I try to think about the bible verses that tell us to 'pray in private'.

    I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving and a wonderful weekend!

    ~Angela

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  5. Praying for you, Barbara! I know how you feel, even though I've only hosted a couple times. This year, I am not, but that's hard, too, for other reasons ...

    (Gosh, I just know that if I was coming to your house tomorrow, I would be SO excited to actually sample all of your delicious recipes =)

    Happy Thanksgiving!
    God bless you and your family!

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I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!