The days of November have skittered past like leaves blown from the branches and here we are. It is Thanksgiving. Give thanks. Though the year has been difficult to navigate. Give thanks. We are disappointed we cannot carry out traditions or be with people we love. Give thanks. Holidays tend to shine an unrelenting light on the empty spaces that we live with every day. Give thanks. Our hearts feel extra heavy. Give thanks.
How to begin? In her November, 2013, blog post on the “What’s Your Grief” website Litsa Williams writes, “It only seems appropriate, with Thanksgiving around the corner, we should at least try to adjust our frame of mind by looking for something good. It may sound cheesy, but here is what I’m going to do to get my holiday season off to a better start: I’m going to find one thing I am grateful for every day.” Give thanks.
A current read in a book discussion group is Grateful by Diana Butler Bass. She describes multiple aspects of gratitude – as something to cultivate, as joyful, as communal. It can spread like a ripple across the world. There is so much evidence of the need, especially this year. Give thanks.
We do give thanks for you. We so appreciate your support. The Buzzy’s Bees team exerted extraordinary effort for Give Grief a Voice 2020 and the virtual event. Our live stream art auction aired at the same time as President-elect Joe Biden’s acceptance speech, November 7. And we enjoyed a wonderful response from our donors. We give thanks. Throughout the weeks leading to and since the event we have been able to reach 50% of our goal. We look forward to 2021 and the opportunity to serve more families with the gift of story and art. If you haven’t had a chance to hear the story, you may find it here. Without a doubt, families who experience this service do give thanks.
