Page 14 - 2017 Autumn-Winter Issue
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Eleven Thanksgivings After
by Carol Thompson
The Monday before Thanksgiving my emotions her homecoming, hear the excited chatter of her
pulled a surprise attack. arriving friends or go for Mexican food the Friday
after.
Cold sunny weather provided a Texas-perfect
backdrop for Thanksgiving week, with Monday Sarah would be almost 35 now but I could not move
marking the first official day of preparation. Dinner my years past her 24 years of life. She was now the
would be at my sister-in-law and brother’s this year. way I had always thought of President Kennedy
I was thankful for the contributing duties of mashed after 1963, frozen solidly in time. Forever Young.
potatoes, fresh green beans and cranberry relish.
Organization brings comfort; I was working on my I encouraged myself. I am working to move
week’s list. forward, reviving my interests, creating a “new
life.” I appreciate my loving friends and family and
Then my heart wandered back to The Thanksgivings am grateful for the tremendous healing power of
Before, anticipating events that had once shaped our a struggling faith. Writing through the days helps
family holiday, traditions that my mind logically me to focus. I have learned who to trust with my
knew could never be. It seemed as if I had to teach thoughts and when to lock up.
myself all over again. Sarah would not breeze in the
door home from college on Wednesday night. We Thinking back before Sarah died, it is true that until
would not huddle up to watch Texas Tech football I had experienced the loss of my own child, I was
and the Dallas Cowboys or attend worship services. incapable of understanding the depths of such pain.
I would not make a big pot of potato soup for I was sympathetic but not empathetic. This insight
allows me to forego or lower my expectations
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