My heart is heavy with realization of the fleeting nature of
human relationships and the unreliability of certain conditions of life in
which we think we find security. I lost many coworkers yesterday to corporate
layoffs—3 in my own department and more across our headquarters. You don’t
expect to return to your desk, morning coffee in hand, to find your coworker
leaving. For good. I didn’t even know she was leaving leaving until she was gone. And she was only the first. We
lost 2 more before noon, and more tears were flowing and cubicles being emptied than
work being done for the rest of the day.
We say how important people are and how the invaluable the “stuff”
of life is compared to the relationships we build and the people we know. To
know that in your head is good; to learn it in your heart is life-altering. This may turn out to be the most meaningful
Thanksgiving season I’ve known until now because it has been pressed upon my
heart maybe more than ever how valuable the relationships I have are. I was sick a couple
weeks ago for several days, and my husband spent day after day going to
the store, cooking comfort food, cleaning the house, and taking care of my
every need—even staying home from work to look after me on his birthday. I
cried in his arms over feeling so loved and cherished, and I am still not over
the awe I experienced from the sacrifices he made for me. I don’t ever want to
be.
You never know when your job may be taken from you, your car
may be wrecked, your house may be burgled or burned down. Those are terrible
things. But then you never know when your coworker may leave and not come back,
or your loved one may drive and not come home. The people we know and love are
the true fabric of this life. When we truly see
them, it is inevitable that thanksgiving will become not just a seasonal tradition,
but a condition of the heart.
Brooke this is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I want Thanksgiving to become a condition of my heart too. Much love to you
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