With Thanksgiving

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

In the recent silence of my heart and home, I have had tremendous opportunity for introspection and worldly cogitation. Strangely, I hadn’t realized the time lapsed since my last posting of November 24. The loss of my beloved Arthur seems just like yesterday. Even as he returned home to me last Saturday, December 2 in ashen remains, the plaster paw-print was reminder of the connection we nurtured in the final days through the countless feet cleaning and massage treatments I spoiled him with. Boy do I miss him.

But all that to say, I have been absent here and present in reflection. For all this while, the constant thought and feeling in my spirit has been one of Thanksgiving. Yes, Thanksgiving with a capital “T” to connote genuine article. My heart has been overwhelmed with the rhythms of Thanksgiving! And it is because of so many of you, in this season of loss, that I find reason to celebrate with Thanksgiving.

To my Auntie Jovita Gross: God sent you that week before the loss and even in all the days since, to be a distracting-healing-spirit. Your insistence that I celebrate Thanksgiving with you and your new family—the day before the loss-- was a prophecy-revealing experience. Those hours away from Arthur, in celebration of Thanksgiving with familial-friends, will eternally inspire me to celebrate faith, love and family in every season. I’m calling on God and the universe to show you incredible favor on Christmas Eve!

To Carly Johnson Watters: Your seasonal gifts have been the visual representation of the feeling of Thanksgiving that overflows in my heart. That they arrived within the month of these two joyous holiday seasons and a personal season of great change for me, is of tremendous God-incidence. I was reminded of the great and glorious bond our families share, upon the arrival yesterday of Mom & Dad’s thoughtful card. I am thankful the genuine definition of “family” extends to Cochise and Dogwood!

To Keri Johnson & Pat Wallace Johnson: You both have only ever shown me love. And your phone messages of late have touched my heart and aided in strengthening my resolve to celebrate with Thanksgiving. Please forgive me for not answering, as I just haven’t been able to muster the words for conversation. Know that I appreciate the sympathetic thoughts and prayers, even as you heal from similar loss of AJ earlier this year.

To All Friends: Your written, spoken and imagined thoughts on our behalf are met with tremendous thanks!... I am blessed in this life’s journey to have phenomenally-amazing friends-as-family who raise me up… Thank you Jesus!