As a millennial mom and a college instructor, I can attest that during the month of Thanksgiving, I can likely strive to be more thankful. It’s difficult to acknowledge and give thanks for all of my blessings when I realize I forgot to buy the disposable baking pans for Thanksgiving dinner, neglected to wash my son’s turkey shirt for a Thanksgiving class party, fell behind on grading papers, and probably have candied yams and tinsel stuck to my clothing somewhere.
When I need to remind myself to be thankful in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, I look to our Blessed Mother. Mary can teach us a lot about recognizing God’s strength and grace that are undoubtedly present in our lives, and the ways He calls us to live—especially during challenging and busy seasons like the holidays.
Thanksgiving is stressful, but Mary teaches us to give thanks during challenging seasons
God has blessed me with the vocation of motherhood and marriage—two things I intentionally prayed for over the years. During the holiday season, it can be easy to feel so wrapped up in everything I have to do that I forget to find joy and give God thanks for these blessings. Honestly, when I am knee-deep trying to manage two pans in the oven and four on the stove and attempting to keep my home “company-ready” for family, thankfulness feels far from my mind.
When it comes down to it, I just don’t always feel cut out to handle all of what’s thrown at me through the holidays. I think about our Blessed Mother and how no matter the situation, she glorified –God—especially during times of challenge. And challenging times they were: The Lord blessed her with carrying and bearing the Messiah, but that didn’t exempt her from public criticism. She also gave birth in a stable in Bethlehem followed by a lot of company. Instead of compromising her faith or doubting God’s strength, she thanked Him: “But Mary treasured up all these things, meditating on them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
When I read this verse, I realize that despite the messes and the crazy schedule and the early mornings, the blessings I prayed for are all around me. I make it a point to take a moment, like Mary, to meditate and give thanks for what God has done for me.
Mary models how to give thanks for God’s plan
God often humbles me when I make my strategic, intricate plans, which I tend to make a lot of around Thanksgiving and Christmas. From going grocery shopping for our feast to making sure my kids have their Christmas sweaters to visit Santa, I’ve got a strict itinerary.
Spoiler alert: These plans usually don’t go the way I thought they would. It’s so easy for me to feel frustrated and lose patience, but once again, the Blessed Mother models a better way. In the book of Luke, Mary reminds us that not only are we not in control, but we should give thanks to the One who is: “And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word’” (Luke 1:38).
Surrendering how I think everything should go has always been a challenge for me, especially around the holidays. But the truth is that every year, everything turns out just fine. We are all fed, happy, and waiting patiently to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Mary reminds us that even though we may not know what the future holds, God’s got it all under control and we should be thankful for His plan.
Mary’s prayer emphasizes grace
The Hail Mary prayer mentions that Mary is full of grace. According to The Holy See, grace is something God offers to all humans that empowers us to get through difficult times we cannot manage on our own. When I’m slogging through November and making my way to December, I make it a point to pause and ask God for His grace.
Mary’s Magnificat emphasizes that we are limited in our capabilities. None of us are perfect and we all sin and make mistakes. In fact, I notice myself becoming harder on everyone around me during the holidays, including myself. With so many time constraints and schedules and overall responsibility, it’s easy to look in the mirror and demand that I “get it together” or accidentally snap at my kids because they’ve (again) misplaced their shoes and we’re about to be late for a holiday event.
Pausing to say Mary’s prayer and ask God to give me some grace helps me remember that not only am I not perfect, but I don’t need to be perfect. It gives me a moment to take a deep, spiritual breath and remember that mistakes are part of life and that God is always ready and willing to forgive me. How amazing is it that God offers us this gift of grace, and all we have to do is call on Him when we need it?
As I make my Thanksgiving and holiday plans, I don’t doubt my moments of frustration will pop up yet again. My goal is to model our Blessed Mother by giving thanks and asking for grace, and appreciating all of my blessings and what God has in store for me through the season, and I hope you will, too.
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