Each year, the week of Thanksgiving, our sitting President pardons, in an act of tradition, the turkey to be consumed by the President and those joining for Thanksgiving dinner. This tradition has roots dating back to Abraham Lincoln. His son had challenges learning and adapting, grew close to a turkey sent to the White House that was to be consumed on a special event. Historians observed and have written about Lincoln and his desire to
indulge his boys, all four of them, in their games and continuing their imaginative spirit. Before Lincoln was President, he was a lawyer and he would allow his kids to come to work with him. Often, tearing up legal books and making a mess of his work space. To the dismay and frustration to his law partner.
As President, he was the same. Embracing, regularly, his boys when they ran into cabinet meetings. He placed urgency on his boys over matters that were pressing in our country.So, for Jack, the turkey, named by Tad, was to be eaten.
Tad, upset by this news, ran into a meeting and begged Lincoln to do something about it. Without hesitation, Lincoln pardoned the turkey, all in an effort to indulge young Tad.
Yes, this is a tale on parenting and prioritizing them and their imagination. Also, about pardoning. With Thanksgiving, comes our own traditions, conversations around gratitude and expressing generosity and kindness. Well, we should also pardon.
Those who have hurt us, those we hold a grudge against. To those that are still feeling our wrath and punishment, because we have not forgiven and let it go ...
...end this cycle. Be a good person, be a better person.
End their sentence. Be free from that and full of love.
Next to gratitude, and generosity to those who have less, what better way to celebrate Thanksgiving by giving that ultimate pardon.