Thanksgiving and Gratitude

It’s Thanksgiving! A time to focus on gratitude. 

Today’s thanksgiving thoughts come to you mostly from 10,000 meters above earth - thoughts revealed while flying home from a family visit to Alberta and Manitoba.

Landing yesterday in Moncton, it was delightful to catch a birds’ eye view of how blazing colours fill our landscape - maple crimson, pumpkin orange, golden yellow. 

At 10 pm last night a 17 pound turkey was delivered to our door. Thank you Burton. And thus the preparations for Thanksgiving dinner begin. I give thanks for being able to gather with family around a table of abundance... mostly from neighbouring farmers. I give thanks that our families are able to, and want to travel to be together. 

I also give thanks for the opportunity to hear hard news.

I give thanks for Michael, a young man I met on Monday when I had the opportunity to visit the tragic and hauntingly sad Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg - where the remains of indigenous women are believed to be buried. On site, red dresses blow in the wind. A sign reads “What if this was your daughter?” Michael is part of a group who remain camped near the landfill. Their presence keeps the tragic story of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People before us. 

Michael was gracious. He spoke clearly “We should not have to be here.” That is, we should not have to protest to ensure a safe respectful burial place for loved ones.

On Tuesday evening, I was fortunate to be in Winnipeg on the date of Manitoba Votes 2023 that resulted in the election of Canada’s first Indigenous premier, Wab Kinew. The positive hope-filled energy of that night was contagious. I give thanks that we live in a democracy where through a ballot, we can elect those we hope will govern with a vision of justice and equality for all.

Also, this week I had the delight to spent time with two great grand children. When the world seems filled with division, there is nothing quite like strolling through a park for several hours with a two year old toddler who wanders without agenda, climbing a rock, splashing in a puddle, or holding a hand. Their attention and sense of awe is in the present moment. Be it bug, puddle or penguin - each hold the same interest… for a moment… until something else catches their eye.

I give thanks that I am able to give and receive love. For my partner David, children, step children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, family, loving friends and kind neighbours, I say thank you. For the gift of Creation and Creator, I say thank you. 

Finally I give thanks for you and how, through technology, our thoughts are connected.

May you gratitude list be long, including those who are with you in Spirit. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Elizabeth

elizstevenson@gmail.com

506-650-4812