How Thanksgiving Took On New Meaning

Photo by Ricardo Esquivel from Pexels

Merriam-Webster defines thanksgiving as, “the act of giving thanks.” For those of us living in the United States, particularly in Michigan’s Metro Detroit area, many of us have been affected by the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. As for me, although I have worked from home since March, I know that there are others that still have to go in (to work).

A New Thanksgiving
Currently, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has limited indoor gatherings to “no more than 10 persons from no more than 2 households.“ For my family, this meant choosing to celebrate Thanksgiving at home. There were a few local restaurants offering Thanksgiving meals, so we ordered from one. It saved us the cooking, while bringing money to one of our local businesses. As we have some family with underlying conditions, I couldn’t justify to myself the idea of getting together. While not nearly the same, we were able to Zoom with my parents and my brothers’ families. I am blessed that I haven’t lost anyone that I know directly to coronavirus/COVID-19, though I have known others that have passed away, survived or are currently sick.

Finding Reasons To Give Thanks
Even prior to the pandemic, I made it a point to actively find reasons to give thanks. Finding those little somethings have helped me to stay motivated during difficult work days, challenging days at home or even days, where I wonder if I’m onboard some crazy train that’s about to crash. When things are hardest, this is when I NEED to hold onto those things that later reveal their true meaning.

In some ways, this pandemic hasn’t changed much. In others, I have chosen to impose limits. I choose to limit my time shopping or picking up carry-out. On Sundays, I participate in virtual church services, since my church is closed. As previously stated, I haven’t stepped foot in my work office since March. My family would have taken a vacation in April but we cancelled it. In fact, over a year ago, we took our last trip to Puerto Rico. However, even with these changes, we are still in good health and we truly more than can cover our basic needs. Things could be worse.

What To Really Give Thanks For
While the pandemic isn’t in itself a good thing, there is some good that has come from it. I heard something in the recent conversation that the pandemic has removed certain “veils,” especially societal and economic ones. Certain truths have been revealed. I would add that there has, also, been a shift in values. I just think how pre-pandemic a conversation about Thanksgiving may have involved deliberating between a few various invitations. Now, the conversation might revolve around whom you could “safely” (I loosely use this term) see per recommendations: ruling out anyone that is older, anyone with underlying health conditions or essential workers that are around a lot of people). With the decreased luxury of picking and choosing, perhaps now we can appreciate those invitations more. Absence painfully makes the heart fonder.

Going off of discussing missing absent loved ones, I think about a recent episode of WDET’s Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson “Finding Gratitude Heading Into Unusual Holiday Season.” There was a point about how some of what we will miss most will be that story that so-and-so has repeatedly told. Where before we would cringe to hear the story in reruns, now we would give almost anything to hear it again. I thought about how true that is.

While I have discussed quite a bit about how our ways of celebrating Thanksgiving have changed, I want to end by returning to the main point of this holiday: giving thanks. Instead of looking on some of these things through the lens of painful separation, let’s look at them through the lenses of hope and warm nostalgia. If you know someone that’s going through a hard time, give them a reason to give thanks. If they’re lonely, offer them some kind, supportive words. If they are scraping by, share some of your food. Pride is a powerful thing, so maybe it’s necessary to provide help anonymously to minimize shame. If you have blessings, share some so that others can have some, too.

I hold onto the hope of one day I will see my loved ones, which keeps me going. I hope that you, also, keep this hope alive, too. When you go through your hard moments, remember these reasons for continuing, these blessings and remember to give thanks everyday.

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