Thankful, Even When the Table Gets Messy

old 50s pickup truck with fall pumpkins and decorations in the bed

Thanksgiving has a way of pressing pause on the noise of everyday life. For one day, the pace slows, the leggings come out, and the table becomes the heart of the home.

It’s a day for passing dishes, sharing stories, and realizing that even if life hasn’t gone perfectly this year, there’s still a whole lot to be thankful for.

This year, I’ve been thinking about gratitude, not the Pinterest-perfect kind with matching napkin rings and curated

centerpieces, but the kind that hangs on even when the year has been heavy, messy, and anything but picture-perfect.

I’m grateful for God’s goodness in seasons that didn’t make sense, for the people who’ve stood beside me when the world underestimated me, and for the grit I’ve gained from living with a disability in a world that still has a lot to learn. I’m also grateful for leggings that forgive every second helping and naps that hit different after a good meal.

Because here’s the thing, gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring the hard stuff. It means saying, “This is real, but so is my blessing.” Like Psalm 100:4 says in the Easy-to-Read Version, “Come in through the gates to his Temple giving thanks to him. Enter his courtyards with songs of praise. Honor him and bless his name.”

Pinterest-worthy rustic silverware place setting

And if I’m being real, advocacy doesn’t stop for the holidays. The same way I speak up for accessibility in everyday life, I want it at the Thanksgiving table too. Make space, literally and figuratively. Ask what someone needs instead of assuming. Invite the person on the edge of the room into the middle of the moment. Accessibility isn’t just ramps and doorways; it’s making sure everyone can reach the pie and feel welcome, taking a slice.

So this year, I’m thankful for my people, my purpose, and the peace God has planted deep in my spirit. And when the day winds down, you’ll find me with a full heart, a full plate, and absolutely no shame in going back for seconds.

Because gratitude isn’t just something we say before we eat, it’s something we live, one messy, beautiful, grace-filled moment at a time.

Well, readers, have a blessed Thanksgiving. And thank you for giving me this platform to share my heart, my stories, and my voice with you. It’s one more thing I’m deeply grateful for.