My Day of Family Gratitude/Thanksgiving

 Twenty one people came to our house for Thanksgiving. I cooked a nineteen pound turkey, fifteen pounds of potatoes, two dozen deviled eggs, homemade cranberry sauce with oranges, seven pots of coffee and roasted beets with garlic and carrots. Aunt Monica brought five pies, three apple and two pumpkin. We had zucchini muffins, ham, rolls, green bean casserole, corn relish and dressing. Aaron made mac and cheese from scratch that cost him $40 to make, everyone brought something! I managed to have time to clean the house and iron three tablecloths. Over the years, the women in my family have become quite good at the game of family parties, many are seasoned cooks and the men know each other well enough to relax.
 This year, I wanted to pray. Pray with connection, not repetition. My children were forewarned about my request. As everyone crowded into the small living room, I stood and read the Shaman's prayer for family unity.
   Help us to honor the sacred gift of family, in our thoughts and in our behavior. Help us to see their
   inner light and help us to see them in the Light of Love and Forgiveness and Appreciation, as you see
   us. Help us to treat them with respect and kindness. Thank you for their touch in our lives, the gifts of
   their teachings, and at times, their testings. Bless them, wherever they may be, in body or in Spirit, with
   the awareness that they are loved. Bless them with your protection and with whatever they need to
   fulfill their greatest purpose. And finally, Great Mystery, help us all to grow in our awareness to the
   place of knowing that on the deepest level of our being, we are all joined together in your heart of
   infinite Love.   ~Ho! May it be so~

 The words came out of my mouth, all eyes were on me while I stood in the circle. Thank you for their testings was the sentence that connected my heart energy to theirs. In a blur, the memories flooded. I choked on the prayer. In body or in Spirit was the sentence that brought the aura of ancestors. How did everyone fit in this room? It was hard, that little prayer, I was so happy when I finished! And just like a new recipe, my mother had to comment, "hum, I noticed you choked three times on the prayer." So what, I burned my first brisket at Easter. We're vegetarians mom! (mostly) This prayer is going to be said daily until it rolls off my lips. Next year, I'll probably choke again but with practice, I'll be a seasoned veteran. Happy Thanksgiving!