We’ll be hosting Thanksgiving here this year for about a dozen friends and family, and I’m excited. Yesterday I bought the turkey and unpacked the china on the dining table.
Then I sat down and made a To Do list. Soon my list was filled with things like: “Clean the oven” and “Vacuum the whole house” and “Dust all surfaces.” The pending celebration made me look around here with a critical eye: The bathroom sink has toothpaste in it! The refrigerator needs to be cleaned! The front porch is full of leaves!
So I paused in my preparations, and curled up in my favorite easy chair to meditate and pray. My soul became calmer, and I sensed that love is the only thing that really matters on Thursday — a day to be grateful and give thanks.
Let our home be warm and welcoming.
Let our celebration remind us of all we are grateful for.
Let our hearts be filled with love.
Amen.
With that prayer, I crossed “Clean the oven” off my list.
Wishing you a joyous Thanksgiving filled with love,
P.S. Here’s my easy method for cooking a moist, crispy Thanksgiving turkey, and our family’s favorite green bean casserole. Hugs!
About Eliza Cross
Eliza Cross is the author of 17 books, including Small Bites, 101 Things To Do With Bacon, and BERRIES. She enjoys sharing ideas to simplify cooking, gardening, and home projects. She is also the owner of Cross Media, Inc. and founder of the BENSA Bacon Lovers Society.
Amen! Have a great holiday, Eliza.
Beautiful prayer, Eliza! I think you captured the essence of the Thanksgiving celebration. I am having a very small group, just my dh, dd, dd’s friend, and me. So, I’ve very little to prepare plus she will help me some when she gets here. Also, I’ll bake the pies and do some other prep tomorrow so we can have the dinner by noon.
Due to being “empty nesters” and both of us liking a clean, neat house, our house stays fairly clean so not much work there either. It wasn’t always this way! Just one of the perks of getting older! But, since you are still in the time of the house getting messy right after cleaning it, my advice is to choose the one thing most important to you for your guests… maybe a shiny, clean powder room or whatever it is that you think makes your house inviting and comfortable for your guests. If you do that one thing, you’ll feel a lot better because it won’t be on your mind for example, everytime someone goes into the bathroom. Hopefully you or your children (if they are old enough to help) have the time. I had my dc helping with everything on the holidays — from the cleaning to the cooking.
A very Happy Thanksgiving to you, Eliza!