The Voice of Southwest Louisiana November 2017 Issue

SWLA health, wealth & wellness Inform, Educate, Empower
Thanksgiving
Without
You
By Emily Ashworth RN, BSN
As I type these words, I am
doing my best to hold back
tears and mixed emotions.
Only a few hours ago, I received a
phone call about another loved one
that has gone home to be with our
Lord. This makes the fourth one to
cross over this year.
My mind is immediately flooded
with amazing memories of them,
especially with the holidays right
around the corner.
How do you plan for the holidays
when you have lost so many
family members in one year?
God’s Word reminds us that life is
but a moment, like a vapor or mist
(James 4:14). One instance we see one
another, and the next instance we hear
or learn of the one we so dearly loved
is gone!
Well, my first thought is to cherish
the family members that are
still here with me and to plan for
the holidays. This is very hard in
this moment, just to think about
Thanksgiving and the other holidays
to come. Yet, I close my eyes and
memories flood my thoughts… I see
my grandmother’s beautiful brown
skin sitting at the table peeling sweet
potatoes. Grandma Annie mashing
potatoes and adding eggs while
shifting over to thoughts of my Uncle
asking for a piece of cake while it is still
warm and fresh out of the oven, or Pop
asking if I need pecans, as he has just
come from the pecan house outside.
Preparing the holiday meal,
‘together,’ for the family is what we
always look forward to doing. I feel sad
when I think of preparing the holiday
meal this year, because those that
mean so much to me, and who make
the meal special…are not here!
Where do I go from here?
How do I celebrate this year when
I am so sad? I pray and talk with my
Lord, who makes no mistakes, and
accepts what He allows. I will talk with
family about the holidays and the
importance of carrying on traditions
that has been ‘lived out’ by our loved
ones with us. All this will help me gain
strength to wash and peel potatoes
just like grandma used to, and place
pecans in the bottom of the cake pan
as I think of pop.
Yes…It takes time to heal from the
pain of loss, and we may never forget
those we have loved that have passed
on. But, through prayer, leaning on
faith in God, and having love of family,
we can smile through it all and cherish
the memories of those we’ve loved.
Not allowing memories to drown you
in sorrow is the essential key to sharing
in Thanksgiving without you.
Volume 6 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM November 2018 7