We had the most laid back Thanksgiving in Gullett family history. And that's saying something, because we are the most no-frills family I know. We even eat Christmas dinner in our PJs. But I usually do make more of an effort to at least make the table look nice on Thanksgiving. This year there was a vacuum and a big circular saw in the dining room, and that only made me slightly anxious. We didn't take one photo, and we all wore sweatshirts all day.
For the first time since we've been married, Daniel didn't make the turkey or stuffing, and I was absolutely, wonderfully fine with it. We ordered turkey and stuffing from a local restaurant, I made sweet potatoe soufle and cranberry sauce, and Ali made pecan pie. This year, I just could not care less about dressing things up for presentation sake. I only wanted to hang out with my kids and husband, watch the dog show and whatever that wacky televised Macy's parade thing was. So strange without the crowd, right?
I was exhausted. Too tired to care about place settings and table decor. Almost too tired to enjoy eating our disheveled but tasty dinner. My house wasn't even clean. But, I am grateful for the tired. I am grateful for passing on the stress and fuss of centerpieces and cloth napkins to relax and have downtime with my little family. For the last two months, we have had very little downtime together. But, I am grateful for that too.
See those desks spaced exactly 3 feet apart? Those are desks in my classroom in a real high school, where I have the priveledge to teach English to real, live 9th and 10th graders 5 days a week. And that window with a view? That's my view from that classroom. So I have been busy teaching in a new school and in a year unlike any other, but I am so incredibly grateful to be so busy doing what I love to do. Teaching again has been my hope and prayer for about 5 years now, and I was finally given the opportunity because of this strange year. And, I have the BEST STUDENTS. I mean that...I have always heard about those "Gloucester kids," as if they were scary gangsters. My students are sweet and kind and smart and fun, and say "thank you" as they leave the classroom. Sometimes I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone or being punked. They aren't perfect, and the desire to put forth effort and engage is still somewhat in hibernation, but I believe I am witnessing a grateful bunch of teenagers. They just seem so glad to be able be in school with their peers.
2020 has dished out hard, emotional stuff. And, I have complained a lot - the toilet paper shortage alone caused me much vexation. But through it all, I am reminded of so many blessings. While I really miss my family and would love to spend the holidays with them, I was able to go home and see most of them in February, right before the world shut down in March. While I was layed off from my job during the spring, I was able to take a class (thanks to technology) toward my master's degree, which is directly helping me teach this year. And I had to read...Like actual books! It was a delightful way to spend the summer of solitude.
So I choose to be grateful. I am very thankful for my husband and children, my home, my students, and my co-workers. It has taken me a very long time to truly love where I live, but this year, I have loved Gloucester more than any other year. Our little fishing town with it's pretty little beaches and blue collar grit and accent, has been resourceful, kind, and resilient. Messages of hope can be seen all over town and acts of kindness have been distributed in big and small ways. Two women, who I don't personally know, even bought brand new books for my students, when I asked for donations of old copies.
Recently, I read an article about gratitude. I found it on
Psychology Today and it really struck me. As Christians we are taught to give thanks to God in all things, and we learn to thank God when we are young for our food and family, when saying grace or our bedtime prayers. But, this article says
science indicates practicing gratitude can make you a mentally healthier person. And don't we all need simple ways to protect our mental health these days!? I just love when science backs up the Bible like that. I am also a huge fan of
Ann Voskamp, and she is the queen of giving thanks and pushing us to see the light of God through the broken darkness.
Being the nerdy teacher I am, I thought that having my students start each class by writing down for what they are thankful would be a great writing exercise for the month of November. I started off by giving them notecards to fill out each day I saw them in class. The notecards started piling up, so I switched the method to Gratitude Journals, and they kept writing their gratitude daily. With the help of our amazing library/media specialist, I was able to create this tree of gratitude in my classroom. Using the notecards from my students, I wrote down what they wrote on the leaves.
My students haven't complained about my asking them to write their thanks, so I am taking that as a good sign. But, honestly, it has brought me so much joy to read their gratitude everyday and to see my corkboard filled with messages of thanks and hope.
And then, there is my church. My home away from home, even when I haven't been there in person for months. Each week they go through the extra work and effort to livestream the services for those who don't feel comfortable to go to service in-person or whose health situations warrant staying home. [I am guilty of staying home out of comfort and not necessity, but thankful just the same] They reach out in big and small ways to stay connected, to serve the body, and I am always surprised by the lengths they will go.
Yesterday, I opened the door to find this package on my steps, delivered by one of the leadership team:
And inside, was a handmade candle holder with candles for each Sunday of Advent. Delivered in person and handmade by the church staff, this rustic gift offers connection. Connection not just to my family but to the Church all over the world, celebrating this season of expectant waiting.
Inside was a challenge to put on pause some of our everyday habits and exchange them for the habit and tradition of Advent. A challenge to focus on the birth and life of Christ by reading the gospel instead of our Facebook feed. A challenge to pray and wait expectantly for the coming of the Savior. Challenge accepted.
With gratitude,
Ashley
