There is a current television advertisement that features several good-looking new cars with the caption: "All roads lead home." That's certainly true for me at Thanksgiving.
My home of origin has not been intact since my parents' deaths, but my memories of past Thanksgiving dinners are as vivid as if they happened yesterday. Immediately I think of the years of World War II when my brother was absent because of his service in the U.S. Navy. Thanksgiving and families go together like love and marriage.
When I think of my home of origin, I always recall the words of a social worker from New York who was in charge of a home for abused children. "These children come to us from homes not worthy of the name," she said. "Their homes are characterized by neglect, alcoholism, abuse of drugs, violence and physical abuse. In our institution, they receive good food, clean sheets and compassionate care yet, the bruises on these children are scarcely healed before they are crying to go home again."
As I look back on my own childhood, I thank God for parents who gave me unconditional love. They never said, "We love you if you're good or if you make good grades." Rather they said, "We love you because you're you and because you belong to us." There is no security in all the world like that.
I'm thankful that my parents never compared their children with each other. My brother, sister and I were very different, but my parents encouraged us to find our own treasures and to respect those of others.
There is no wholeness, no integration without a solid sense of values. In my family, the value system came from the Christian faith. As a teenager, I sometimes reacted to what I considered the restraints of religion. Later I came to realize that Jesus showed us the Magna Carta of real freedom - the freedom to be all that we were created to be.
So this Thanksgiving, let's give thanks for families.
Contact Nell Mohney at nellwmohney@comcast.net.