In the next few days, many are planning to go ahead with family gatherings for Thanksgiving in spite of mandates set by our governor. In what might be considered an act of defiance, it’s still a time to be thankful, even if we do it differently this year.

My Thanksgivings have been celebrated by myself or with friends who felt sad for my being alone. There were special trips to visit family members far away on occasion. Being born and raised in Wisconsin, where deer hunting always occurs during Thanksgiving week, my husband would normally return to his happy hunting grounds for the week long event. We’ve celebrated on a different day as a family, so it’s not like I don’t have a chance to make turkey and all the fixings.

This year has been one of many challenges. A tiny germ has spread like wildfire, infecting people randomly in its path. We’ve been asked to isolate ourselves recently because of a spike in new cases. This changes everything for everyone, not just the deer hunting wives left behind. Because of extenuating circumstances, my husband will not be hunting in Wisconsin this year. The obvious reason is Corona, but with a change in location and not being able to check it out beforehand, he has decided to play it safe and stay home.

It breaks my heart to see him have to give this up. He’s had to do a lot of that in his seventy eight years. It’s hard to eliminate something from your life that’s been part of it for fifty years. He says it’s OK with him and I do believe that, but I know he’s sad because of it. Yet I am grateful that I will have him home for Thanksgiving. There will be more hunting trips, God willing. There will be more alone Thanksgivings, but I am so grateful for the many gifts God has blessed us with in our lives together.

Perhaps this is a selfish reason for being thankful. Perhaps this disease has me thinking differently. Covid19 has changed lives in the past 8 months. People get depressed because they can’t socialize. We miss physical contact, like hugs. We feel cheated especially during the holiday season when we often gather in large groups. It’s enough to make anyone say, “Bah humbug!”

We cannot count on anything definite in this world. Our path has already been laid out, but it’s also been masterfully crafted by the King of Creation. We’ve also been promised a perfect life after death.

With that in mind, we can be thankful for so much. God is in control no matter what comes our way. Give thanks to Him for life, for direction and guidance, for His unconditional love and for His forgiveness. His love endures forever.