It is the eve of “the most important election in our nation’s history.” But no pressure. As I speak to friends across the country and here in our own communities, the fear and anxiety is palpable. As people of faith, we believe in the worth and dignity of all our siblings, so when we hear our beloveds being denigrated in the public square to cheers and applause, it hurts us to our core. As a queer mother raising a transgender teenager, my fear and anxiety is in my throat every day. What does her future look like? How do I protect a child who is being used as a political pawn? I don’t know the answer to those questions, but I do know that the response to the time can only be hope and gratitude.
If you have children or grandchildren, young ones in your congregations, you see their possibility. They walk through the world with joy and love. They ask questions. They help. There is a hope for their future because the young adults we have raised in our communities are determined to fix the mistakes of their ancestors and to heal the world. They love and welcome all for their whole selves in a way that seems so natural to them.
I began an intentional journey of self love and forgiveness in 2015, one I am still on. One of my biggest lessons as I struggled with loss and challenge was to count each blessing as it comes. Early in that time I heard Brené Brown say “you can have an attitude of gratitude, but what is your practice?”
With a then 5 year old, we began an evening gratitude practice: Wir sind dankbar für dieses Essen und das Essen ist gut. We are grateful for this food and food is good. (My ex husband is German.) Then we shared something we were grateful for. As our family has changed and my daughter has grown, we now share a different blessing, then our high and low of the day, something we’re grateful for, something we are looking forward to, and something we wonder about. When we have guests, whether family or teenage friends, they are invited to participate. On some days coming up with something good is a challenge, but searching for that one thing changes how we move through the evening. And on good days when it is hard to think of a low, I insist my daughter come up with one to keep us humble and aware.
We may not know the results of tomorrow’s election for some time and regardless of the outcome there will be challenges ahead. But as we move through this month of Thanksgiving, may we each find moments in our days to count our many blessings.
As I write this, there is a twelve week old foster kitten purring in my lap and two more at the door wanting their mom back. The radiator next to me, though not attractive, is keeping us warm as the wind blows outside. I discovered a new author I love in time for the blanket and coffee season. And though none of it sounds appealing right now, the fridge and pantry are full of (mostly) nutritious food.
Be well and grateful, my friends. We need each other now more than ever.
In Faith and Service,
Laurice Grae