A child’s view of the world is often skewed by time and perspective.  What seems idyllic for a child, may be something much less then perfect for those surrounding with a wider perspective or a sounder grasp of reality.In my mind, I remember many idyllic Thanksgiving’s growing up as a child.  Our family gathered around the table in our home on the plains of northwestern Minnesota.  In   my mind, I picture it the same every year, my Dad at the head of the table, my three older brothers, my younger sister, Grandma Jirik, and Mom placing the carved turkey on the table.

The food was a big part of it, and Mom was an excellent cook.  Our table was always full, a big moist turkey, Mom’s special dressing (with raisins and wild rice), corn, beans, squash, cranberries, koblaha, kolaches, bitawicka, home made bread, gravy, and pies for desert - apple, pumpkin, or lemon meringue.

I can remember several years after the meal, sitting down with grandma on our couch in our living room and reading through the story of the first Thanksgiving in one of old Catholic Reader textbooks.  She was always patient with my slow reading, always asking questions about what I read - or just asking what I was thankful for.

If there was snow on the ground, after the meal had settled and the tryptophan had worn off, us boys would head outside for some good sledding behind the three wheeler through the early drifts and snow.  If there was no snow, it might be outside playing in the woods or just inside with the family watching football or one of the many specials on television.

It was the perfect Thanksgiving.

As time goes on, you realize that things are not perfect.  The ups and downs of the farm economy would weigh on Mom and Dad.  Age was catching up with Grandma as she moved slower with time.  Each year, the meal that we would consume in one hour, Mom would have been working hours and hours on.  You would start to see when Dad would sneak out to check on that downed cow or that calf that didn’t seem quite right in the morning.

Perhaps the trick of Thanksgiving, and perhaps life, is to view things through that child like eyes.  In the end, the economy is going it have its ups and downs, our bodies will deteriorate, our loved ones will pass on.  Things will never be perfect.  But on Thanksgiving Day, and indeed, everyday, we have so much to be thankful for.

We may have the worries and the strife of life, we may lack comfort, or hearty meals, we might lack all of the creature comforts of home, but our faith, the love of family and friends, and the hope of better times to come remain - and if that is all I have, somehow, I know that idyllic Thanksgiving lives on.

Wishing you and yours a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.