November is the month when we remember loved ones who have gone before us. It’s also a time when we give thanks for the blessings we have received. In so many cases, the two are one and the same.

This year marked the death of my aunt and godmother. She was the last of her generation in our family, so it’s official now. My siblings and cousins are the frontline, the matriarchs and patriarchs of our own families, with no imaginary cushion between us and our own mortality.

That realization, in its own way, is a blessing. There’s nothing like the encroachment of time to sharpen our awareness of the preciousness of each moment and the importance of spending our remaining days wisely.

I am deeply grateful for my parents—for the love and discipline they gave me and my siblings, for the values they lived and taught and the sacrifices they made to give us a stable life where we felt safe and secure.

I am grateful for the humor and the joy of family gatherings, for the telling and retelling of stories that instilled in us a sense of belonging, which continue to be passed on to new generations.

I am especially thankful for the example my parents set of faith and love of God that has served as a bedrock supporting us through all life’s obstacles, including the loss of their physical presence on earth.

As we pray for the souls of our departed loved ones and mark their absence around our holiday tables, may we experience the richness of their legacy of love that reaches beyond the grave and touches our hearts in the profoundest of ways.
—Cindy Duesing

What are you thankful for? Let us know at cduesing@twc.com.