Page 19 - Desert Lightning News, So. AZ Edition, Nov. 3 2017

Desert Lightning News November 2017 19

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Holiday, Thanksgiving and gratitude:Facebook.com/DesertLightningNews Some thoughts

November is the Thankful Month. OK, we observe a na- Heels) to visit my dad. As many of you have experienced or had a wonderful time, don’t you think?” he continued. “It’s
tional holiday in the month. Note with me that it is called will experience, our family walked through many somber such a blessing to have them here … they are such beauti-
a national holiday, but in a historical sense it is not truly milestones leading to his passing. Taking of the keys to ful children, and their parents are doing so well at raising
a holiday i.e. a “holy day.” Bear with me for a moment, the car, hiring home health care providers, working with such happy children.”
I’m not suggesting you change the way you use the word Hospice, moving Dad into an assisted living facility, etc.
holiday, but a look at its historical basis may enlarge our Through it all, the quality that I observed most in my father Perhaps, one’s perspective changes with the years. Per-
understanding. was his gratitude. haps, having hearing aids to turn off or remove can create
a strategic advantage. Maybe … but I’m convinced that
It bears mentioning that the term holiday finds its origin He was consistently grateful for his family. He would brag Dad had the better attitude and perspective. He lived in
in religion. So, in a historical, etymological sense of the about each of his four children and repeatedly acknowl- the moment, and celebrated the blessing of a house full of
word, we are dealing with days that are deemed “holy” edged the blessings God had given him. He verbalized his noisy kids. He expressed gratitude to God for his life, his
based upon religious teaching and practice. belief that he had been blessed in so many ways. He spoke family, for the profound privilege of living long enough to
of 60 years of marriage to Mom, whom he missed dearly, enjoy his great-grandchildren and just before he passed,
For example, the major holidays of Judaism, Christianity and looked forward to meeting again. He spoke of his grands he rejoiced in seeing his first great-great-grandchild. He
and Islam are: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Christmas, and greats who were such a blessing to him. reminded our family that one should never miss the op-
Easter, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. These days are con- portunity to express gratitude to family, friends and to God.
sidered holy because of their deep religious significance. Of I am reminded of one time when the family gathered at
course, on a practical level most of us would call anything Dad’s house for a meal. The gathering included a half-dozen Happy Thanksgiving.
a holiday if it meant getting a day off. or more great-grandchildren who can only be described as Thanks for your service and sacrifice.
one standard deviation away from barbaric. They played
But what about Thanksgiving? It commemorates a fa- with reckless abandon in the living room. Dad sat in his Courtesy of Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Larry Fowler
miliar American narrative of the arrival of the Pilgrims, recliner and enjoyed the “show.” The greats in question 56th Fighter Wing Chapel
their difficult first winter of suffering and loss of life, their weren’t mine and their parents were present but oblivious
adapting to a new environment aided by the Native Ameri- to the riotous activity and the painful cacophony that was
cans whose tutelage made their survival possible. It recalls occurring at the feet of my father. I did the brave thing and
the first autumn harvest feast with the Pilgrims and the ignored this assault to my ears and parental sensibilities.
Wampanoag Tribe in 1621. This feast was indeed a feast of Mind you, my two brothers and my sister would never
thanksgiving to God, but is not an official religious holiday have gotten away with this. The grands would have been
on the Christian calendar. Rather, it is a national holiday/ quieter, but the greats … oh my goodness, convicted felons
observance with deep religious/spiritual ties. Slight but have behaved better.
significant distinction, yet the concept of giving thanks and
expressing gratitude is universally seen as important in Eventually, through divine mercy, the greats left for
our lives, whether we are people of faith or not. home, and I was left alone in the quiet house with Dad.
Just the two of us, enjoying the stillness of a house without
Please allow a moment of transparency. This year has children. As we talked I discovered that he did not share
been difficult for my family. During this year, my father’s my perception of the evening.
health declined as he battled cancer and passed in August.
So this year found me traveling home to North Carolina (go “Wasn’t it lovely to have the greats here?” Dad said. “They

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