Our strongest family tradition for the holidays is to give until it hurts, so to speak. As a result, everyone in our family makes food for the hungry, works in a food kitchen or hosts homeless or vagrant people for the holidays. Yes, it's a risk to invite strangers to our tables, but we do it.
It has been a generational tradition that we can't evade and no one wants to avoid. In fact, everyone embraces it and cherishes the enriching stories that come from such shared holidays. If you have more than you need, consider giving to someone else this year and every year that you are able to do so. You don't need to share your table as we do but you can drop off food, hand out food or make a generous contribution of food to your local food kitchen, church or synagogue or hand out sandwiches to the homeless you see around your town.
We've spent plenty of holidays in our home sharing homemade pizza for Thanksgiving because we gave away the turkey. Over the years, I learned to buy more than one turkey so that we could still have a turkey after we donated however many turkeys were needed locally. If you can, please join us in giving. It costs so little and adds so much to those in need of a holiday, a tradition or simple warm food. If you shop wisely you can get turkeys for very little, spend a little energy cooking and present those who would go without a holiday with some joy and nourishment.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and here's hoping you are truly grateful to have whatever is upon your table for sharing. At our house, I know we are very grateful. And please remember, there are more holidays ahead for the opportunity to give food and nourish those in need. Please find it in your hearts to do so.
