A reminder of past times
As Thanksgiving recently passed, it served as a reminder of the importance of family traditions.
My mom died earlier this year. She was the last of the generation that was ahead of us. Mom, though she had dementia, could squeeze a smile when I would visit with her and remind her of family gatherings involving Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of course, Thanksgiving and Christmas 2024 were the final ones she was physically with us.
Mom was a gracious host during our many festive times, whether it was at home or on the road to grandparent gatherings.
In visiting with brothers, they all felt the same—we know that we cannot change our feelings that we had a blessed upbringing.
Rekindling the days of our grandparents and parents brings a smile to my face and how fortunate we were. As kids, we didn’t know if we were better off than others. We all made the assumption that our friends had a similar family gathering. Some families traveled many miles to have a Thanksgiving and Christmas at the family farm. Others—who grew up on a family farm—served as the host and eagerly awaited for all to arrive.
Years later, we learned that not all friends had the same experiences we did. Some of those reasons included care for an ailing or dying parent, or their parents had to work or could not afford to travel or host anyone else.
Today I can say I experienced all those highs and lows, too. It seemed like a Norman Rockwell holiday season was a goal that was rarely achieved.
Yet, that is OK too. The key was to make an effort for the family to gather and reminisce—wearing a smile and an appetite for good conversation—where politics took a sideline.
It also affirms our belief in God and knowing that he sent Christ to be the centerpiece of our lives. While we will fall short of His expectations, the Lord is forgiving, and he provides us with family and friends to help us collectively to do better.
My advice is to be thankful for the many good influences in our lives—parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, siblings, cousins, and friends. Take the time to express your love to them while they are walking beside us because once they depart, that connection allows them to always walk with us.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
