You might notice more white space on this blog. Less words.
That’s on purpose.
Space feels great. It’s a hard commodity to come by as we approach the holidays and the end of the year. Everything gets squeezed in, condensed. More food than usual. More family time than usual (leading, admittedly, to perhaps more arguing than usual). More hype and must-have and must-buy and impossibly high expectations, particularly this week as Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day and eat a really big meal.
This year, I realized how important it was to keep it simple. Simple gifts, simple gratitude.
Because this is what life brought my husband and me last month.
Our first grandchild came six weeks early via C-section, out of necessity for mom’s and baby’s health. She was so very, very tiny. The first time I saw her in the NICU, hooked up to things that monitored her, assisted her breathing, kept her warm, I experienced an entirely new feeling. One of elation and pride but also something deep, almost subterranean. Fear is the wrong word. Sorrow, yet not, because this was new life! Call it bittersweet joy. Call it a keen, humbling awareness of how very vulnerable our granddaughter was, how abruptly her safe, amniotic world had been cut short. I wanted to cry for what she’d lost, but cheer at the same time for her safe entry into the [cold and cruel but we’ll let her figure that out for herself down the road] world.
It’s six weeks later, and our granddaughter is home, where it is our immense good fortune and privilege to house the family this first year. The baby is growing and thriving, and every now and then, I stop in my tracks and bow my head for a whispered thank you, thank you, God, for watching over her and the whole family.
I am a grandmother now. My son is a dad. Wow. Just … wow.
What a gift. What gratitude.
“Simple Gifts” is a 19th-century Shaker song that celebrates the Shakers’ belief in simplicity, freedom, and living without worldly attachments. Written by Joseph Brackett in 1848, it strives to illustrate how simple, humble life free from pride and material possessions leads to spiritual peace and joy (and dance!). I just love it.
Here are the words:
‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we will not be ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come ’round right.
It’s just perfect. It’s the best addition to this year’s Thanksgiving holiday I could ask for (beyond a grandchild). This version features Yo Yo Ma on the cello and Alison Krause as the vocalist, and is by far my favorite. Simplicity, space, perfection, all meeting together. The images on the video, too, are a perfect touch.
This Thanksgiving, our household will have a loved one coming to visit, and another loved one who must spend the holiday week in the hospital following a complex surgery. It’s going to be a Thanksgiving like no other. More casual seating and eating as we work around various new variables (not to mention one that incorporates a new baby). But all of that is okay. When things aren’t “same as always,” it wakes you up. It teaches you awareness, allows you to witness the discomfort of vulnerability, insecurity, in a way that might feel uncomfortable but, paradoxically, can be right, even weirdly satisfying. “This too belongs,” is a great mindfulness phrase I learned way back, and it perfectly describes times like this.
For Thanksgiving day, and dinner, and weekend, I’ll strive to keep it simple and flexible, enjoying everything the week brings.
Simple gifts. Simple gratitude.
PS: My classical music readers will surely enjoy Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite, composed for Martha Graham’s 1958 modern ballet of the same name. It’s pure Americana and perfect for Thanksgiving Day listening. Check it out below. And for my ballet fans, HERE is a great link to watch Graham’s televised world premiere of the ballet, featuring a young Martha Graham as the female lead. Amazing, historic stuff.
PPS: in the spirit of “gratitude” and “simple gifts,” all my books are FREE today through Thanksgiving Day, November 27th. Just click on their titles!
Notice that also free is my companion novel, A Dancer’s Guide to Africa, which connects to the Ballet Theatre Chronicles series via Ballet Orphans, which itself, while Book 3, is the series prequel. Set in Central Africa, A Dancer’s Guide to Africa is both hilarious and poignant, a colorful portrait of Africa, a damned entertaining read if I don’t say so myself. Quite possibly my favorite among all my novels.
I am eternally grateful for all the readers who’ve bought my novels, read them, rated and reviewed them, over these past 10 years, just as I am grateful to you, my Classical Girl blog readers, for your loyalty over the past 13 years. Thank you, a hundred times over.
Congratulations grandma. Your family is beautiful. So thankful everyone is home and thriving. God is faithful even in the simplest of things. New birth, but so simple but oh so gratifying.
Thankful for your faithfulness to us, your readers. I am always awewd by what I learn from you. Thank you. I am grateful for you.
Donna, what a beautiful reply. SUCH gratitude for YOU. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with everyone. I love when readers get to hear from other readers.
Is that the Donna I know? You go, girl!
And you, Terez… I FEEL your words, your experience, your visceral reaction on seeing BBJ (Beautiful Baby Juniper) for the first time. I see your awe, your curiosity, your wonderment, bewilderment as you hold her in your arms, looking down at her, INTO her. Perhaps this is the gift of giving into simplicity, of letting go, of opening up to the unknown, the unknowing. Holding you, new family, new challenges, new graces. No. More. Words… yet.😘
Annette, I so love your comments and insight — thank you! And yes, “Donna” is “our” Donna!
This is so beautiful. I too became a grandmother this past year. Even though he wasn’t premature, the feelings you described were much like what I felt. They are so precious and vulnerable in those early days and weeks.
Congratulations, then, to you too, Meg! Thanks so much for sharing these comments with the group.
Such a beautiful post, full of heart and wonderful nourishment with the Simple Gifts and Appalachian Spring. I appreciate having these to turn to as I endure the excess of our “cultural commandments” to consume more and more stuff. So affirming that you put it into words, thank you. Simple can be as easy as just slowing down!
Wishing you a simply wonderful Thanksgiving together.
Thank you, Kathleen, and wow, what a beautiful response to my post. You, too, have such a way with words. Thanks for sharing it with everyone.
What a beautiful tribute to a loving and always constant God who allows us to remember the best parts of this life and always keep them in check. Thank you for a sweet written message of gratitude for this season of Thanksgiving and to all you hold dear-Grandma, is an important role. Congrats!! And remembering that the small and simple things of life burst forth the most amazing results.
Your post made me reflect on all in my world and my gratitude to God for them. Thank you for being so dear to me.
Rena, this is so lovely! What a Thanksgiving treat to read your words here. All of the messages on this reply thread are so wonderful and inspiring. Thanks for being the most recent source of warmth and love.