November has arrived with all the beauty of an autumn season. We usually don’t get the gorgeous leaves until November here in Alabama. Some of you have had them for weeks in your area of the country. And some of you don’t have any at all…beach friends! But this season is always special.
Thanksgiving was always a special time for me growing up. The weeks leading up to the day meant thinking about the upcoming time of being with grandparents and cousins! We always went to our grandparents’ homes for that weekend. It was the custom in our family. Unless you were deathly sick, you never missed going. Family was important, and holidays celebrated family. The aunts all brought their favorite dishes, and grandmother cooked her normal fare.
We girl cousins took our places on the porch, freezing to death, but sharing stories of the current happenings in our lives. These memories are still very dear to me.
I loved hearing the stories of my parents’ days when they were growing up and their holidays. I believe it is crucial to share stories from your life with children and grandchildren. Most of the time they find things very strange compared to today, but they always ask questions. Sharing heritage is so important. I wish my grandparents were still around, as I have thought of a million things I would love to know about them. My mom still tells stories of her childhood, and I love that.
Are we sharing the things we should be with the young members of our family? As this crazy, fast-paced world whirls on, I want to spend time whenever we are together talking about moments in our lives. Times that helped shape us and taught us life’s lessons. It also reminds us of the things that matter most in life. Time. Time that once passed cannot be relived.
Tell each child or grandchild about your feelings when they were born. Their faces glow when they hear how we loved them instantly. Remind them of the importance of family gatherings. And above all, tell them how much you love them.