the greenest grass around

Thanksgiving is when we like to express thanks for all the good things we have in our lives. Thanksgiving begins the “Holiday” season for those who don’t really count Halloween. The “Holiday” season is a family-filled, merry, and bright time. Well, it is, until it isn’t.

I have never stopped and thought about all of the hurt and pain the holiday season means for many people. People who are grieving the loss of loved ones and the holiday season seem to bring those emotions to the forefront of our minds. So many holiday traditions and events are filled with the echo of what they once were but are no longer. You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. The void of someone seems to be louder than their actual presence.

As many of you know, we lost our 12-year-old son this summer. We have been dreading this holiday season. You can only anticipate so much, and you already have no idea what will cause your emotions to overreact. Our Jordan wasn’t particularly thrilled about Thanksgiving, but he LOVED Halloween and Christmas. October was hard and I know December will be too. But today, I choose to be thankful for what I have and what I had.

So today, and every day, I choose to be thankful…

I choose to be thankful for the “normal” stuff, like my amazing family and supportive friends, our jobs, school, home, health, and safety.

But I also choose to be thankful for the closeness the tragedy brought to our family. I am thankful for the 12 wonderful (sometimes stressful, lol) years we had with Jordan. I am thankful for the people and families we met because of Jordan. I am thankful for the parenting experiences his quirky and old grumpy man attitude brought to us. I am thankful for all the times he made us laugh with his dry and sometimes inappropriate sense of humor. But most importantly, I thank God every day for allowing me to be his mother.

Be thankful in the good times and in the bad times. Be thankful for what you have and what you had. I encourage you to be mindful this holiday season. Be mindful of the people around you and what they might be going through this time of year. I am definitely not trying to be a Scrooge but do put yourself in their shoes. Tomorrow is not promised, and you have no idea what may lie ahead in the coming years.

If you are someone who is grieving the holiday season, I also encourage you to be thankful for what you still have. If there are things or people you need to reconnect or forgive, there is no time like the present.