A Feast of Gratitude and Miracles: when the turkey meets the latke
“Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It means learning to live your life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis ofhowmuchyou’vebeengiven” – MarelisaFabrega
”I was very skeptical aboutmiracles,andneverparticularlygrateful for what I had as I always believedIworkedhardandIgotwhatIdeserved. Itook everythingforgranted.It all changedwhenIalmostlostmymominacaraccident. Althoughthedoctorssaidtherewasnotmuchtheycould do,theykeptfightingforhersurvival.Sincethen,IbelieveinmiraclesandI’mespeciallythankfulforgoodhealthand forthemiracleworkersoutthere.Thisyear,Hanukkah andThanksgivingbroughtitalltogetherforme” – someonesharedwithmeafewdaysago.
I’vealwayscelebratedHanukkah sincethedaymysaba(grandfather)gavemethesameHanukkiahI’mstilllighting40plus yearslater.WiththatHanukkiah,mysabagavemethe wonderfulgiftoftradition.IloveHanukkah,thecelebrationanditsmeaning.Ilovecelebratingmiracles,notonlybecauselifeitselfisone,butbecauseIbelieveinthosewhocreatemiraclesandapplaudthosewhokeepbelieving.
WhenImovedtotheUSA,15yearsago,IlearnedallaboutThanksgiving,ajoyouscelebrationofgratitudethatwaseasilywelcomedin ourfamilytradition.BeinggratefulissomethingthatmyJewishrootshavealwaystaughtme,fromthemorningprayerstodifferentritualsduringtheday.Judaismisa religionthat constantlyremindsustoappreciatelifeanditsgifts.IloveeverythingaboutThanksgiving.Icelebratethegoodandthechallenging,asone without the other cannot exist, and I’m thankful forbeingaliveand be able to overcomewhateverlifebrings.
Thisyear,ThanksgivingfallsonthefirstdayofHanukkah,a rare fact that onlyhappenedoncebefore,in1888.Ibelieveitiseasytocelebratebothtogether,notonlybecauselatkescangowellwithcranberrysauce,ortheturkeycanlookniceonatablenexttotheHanukkah candles,ormaybe because both areacelebrationoffreedomfromreligiousoppressionandpersecution.IbelieveHanukkahandThanksgivingcancomplementeachotherinabeautifulway:beingthankfulforthemiracleoflifeandforthosewhomakemiracleshappen!
Thatinsightsharedwithmea few days ago mademethinkaboutsomanythings,butmostly aboutthe“miracleworkers”.Itmademethinkaboutallofuswhovolunteerindifferentorganizationstomakethedifference,andthosewhocontributewiththeirdonationstogivehopeandabettertomorrowtoothers,theoneswhoworkinthenonforprofitsector,andthepoliceofficersandthefirefighters,andtheteachers,doctorsandnurses,thesoldiersdefendingtheircountry,andallthegoodpeopleinthisplanetwhoonewayoranotherdecidetomakeitabetterplace.Anyonewhostillbelievesthatsomethinggoodcanhappenifweatleasttry,nomatterhow devastatingrealitycanbesometimes,isamiracleworkertome.Andtothatmiracleworker,IwilldedicatethisThanksgivingthat this yearisholdingthehandofHanukkah,acelebrationtofeelgratitudefortheirmiracles,dayinanddayout.Aneternalgratitudeforkeepingtheoilburning!
Iinviteyoutothinkaboutthemiraclesinyourlife,thepeoplewhocreatethemforyouandthemiraclesthatyoucreateforothers.Connectingwiththosemiracleshelpsusunderstandourpurposeonearthandtofeelthegratitudeandjoyforourmiraculouslife.
Haveahappyholidayandalifefilledwith latkesandturkey,miraclesandgratitude!
