This Thanksgiving...

This Thanksgiving...

They say, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder,"
we know absence makes the heart grow poignant.
The absence of those we love and miss today 

comes like a lump in the throat, 

a pressure in the chest,

tears, gulped away.

Their faces rise before us,
their voices echo in the silence,
the touch of their hands brushes us in the stillness.

Longing has asked for a seat at the table of our heart today.

But we're tender and afraid,

and this day is for thanks, not for sadness,

so we turn away from longing,

pretend it isn't here,

and ask ourselves instead, with forced 

smile, "What are you thankful for?"

batting away the hand of longing 

as it reaches for our heart.

Let's not.

Today, instead,

let's welcome longing in.

Let's take its coat, 

hug it tenderly, 

offer it a seat, 

and then feed it generously.

Given a place at the table,

longing will speak kindly to absence, 

pat sorrow's shoulder,

laugh with memory, 

draw out awareness,

and pull up a chair to pat the seat of honor

for gratitude.

Our heart will be full.

 

And we may end up feeling, after all, 

the presence of all who are not alongside us today,

here within us.

We may sense our belonging to them,

connection not only unbreakable

but strengthened this day.

Because longing 

given place and welcome,

made comfortable and free,

settles in,

makes itself at home,

and eventually reveals in us

its true and full self:

Love. 

-Kara Root
 
Happy Thanksgiving.