Usually...

Usually, Thanksgiving dinner is a time where I look around the table, and thank the Lord for the beautiful people he has seated at my table. My wonderful sons, my daughters and my grandchildren, and of course my husband. I can usually go around the table and thank the Lord for giving me such a precious family. My daughter-in-law and I usually cook together. We usually make homemade rolls. I do the turkey and she does the phenomenal side dishes. She’s a much better cook than I am, so I always enjoy her cooking. I love setting the table with my silver china. Thanks to my mom and Aunt Ruthie, I have enough place settings for everyone. The grandkids are excited about the holiday, and they draw me pictures of turkeys and post them on my refrigerator. The football games are on, and the house is filled with the sweetness of a houseful of family. But today is not usual. While most of my family is tucked away in a cozy warm house, fueled by a wood stove, with snow covered trees and mountains, I am far from home. I had hoped to join my mother in Southern California with my Aunt Ruthie who is battling cancer. We were going to go shopping, go to a dinner theater, high tea and take in a movie. None of that is true except that I am in Southern California with my mom and my Aunt Ruthie. My mom and I are sitting in a hotel room; Aunt Ruthie is in the hospital battling for her life. Thanksgiving dinner will be with strangers, her friends, wonderful sweet people, but people I don’t even know. Usually, I go around the table and express gratefulness for the people that are seated there. But today, I am so grateful to God for the people that are not here. My wonderful husband who is so supportive and loving, my wonderful son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren whom I adore, my son in San Francisco who I miss with all my heart, my daughter and son-in-law in Santa Cruz who I miss terribly, my sister and her family in Redding who I long to spend time with, my sister and her family in Watsonville, who I long to be with, my brother and his family in Carmel who I think about constantly, and my precious friends, aunts, cousins and uncles and sisters in the Lord in Watsonville, Bend, Santa Cruz, Texas and Oregon who always respond to my requests for prayer. Their love and devotion to me is remarkable. This is a Thanksgiving where I am thankful for those not at my table. And grateful for the new friends that are. Thankfulness is something unexpected. I am thankful for this Thanksgiving with my Aunt Ruthie. I cherish the moments and whispers of love and hopes for the future. The future may be in the next morning light, or it might be in the new morning light of heaven. But what I know for sure, is no one but my Aunt Ruthie is more deserving of a welcome in heaven where the red carpets are rolled out and the trumpets sound and the loved ones gather to cheer the home going of a warrior who has always loved the Lord Jesus with all her heart. She's my hero. I'm going to make sure she knows that. I hope and pray she has many more months, but if she doesn't, oh the fanfare that awaits her in the heavenly gates. I'm sure that all of heaven knows her legacy and generosity and love that she has given to all who know her. I know that I'll never be the same.