Turning the Page: Discovering New Traditions in a Season of Gratitude

Still, in the spirit of family, the four of us rose bright and early Thanksgiving morning, bundled up against the cold, secured our turkey headbands, pinned on our race bibs, and joined 200-plus runners at the starting line. My boys quickly darted ahead, no surprise there, while my husband and I maintained what we generously called a “jog.” We enjoyed the camaraderie as we moved along the course, feeling very much part of something festive.

The highlight came when we passed my son Matthew’s home. There, waiting for us about three quarters of the way through the race, were our grandchildren and the rest of the family, bundled up and cheering wildly. Their high-fives were the boost we needed, because right around the corner was the infamous “Heartbreak Hill.” We tackled it with determination, and soon after, as our legs began to wobble, our sons, having finished long before us, came back to run us in. We dug deep, kicking it in as we crossed the finish line proud simply to have completed it.

When the results were announced, we stood eagerly, expecting to hear David’s name, and sure enough, he earned third place in his very competitive age group. The prize? Not a medal, but a bag of whoopie pies (he was not disappointed). We whooped and hollered like any proud, overly rowdy cheering section would.

Then came the surprise twist. Just as we turned to leave, I heard my own name over the loudspeaker, I had placed second in my age group. My little crew erupted in celebration as I stepped forward to claim my pumpkin bread prize. At least we had Thanksgiving dessert nearly covered!

But the new traditions didn’t stop there. My daughter-in-law, Katie, and my son Matthew opened their home not only to our family but also to two families who didn’t have relatives nearby for the holiday. In all, there were 24 of us, 10 of them children, all ages seven or younger. Was it chaos? Absolutely. Was it noisy? Without question. Did I love every moment of it? I surely did.

Even though many of us had only just met, there was a remarkable, warm feeling of togetherness and gratitude throughout the home as we all took turns saying what we were thankful for. The children spoke with such innocence about what they were thankful for, their family, their friends, their toys, the little things they held dear, and their sincerity made the moment even more special. When one of the visiting friends was preparing to leave, I told her how much I enjoyed spending Thanksgiving with her and her family. She smiled and said, “I think we just found our new Thanksgiving family tradition.” Knowing her family lives thousands of miles away in Mexico City, my heart swelled with pride for Matthew and Katie, and gratitude for the way our family made everyone feel welcome.

As I headed off to bed that evening, exhausted but happy, I realized that this Thanksgiving taught me something simple yet profound: the best traditions are the ones that leave room for new pages, new races to run, new faces at the table, new chapters we didn’t expect but wouldn’t trade for anything. When we meet the unknown with open hearts and fresh eyes, we discover that the next page often holds more joy than we imagined.

As Christmas approaches, may we open our hearts to the idea that our most cherished traditions begin when we welcome new chapters. C.S. Lewis expressed it best: “Life is a book and there are a thousand pages you have not yet read.”

Rhonda S. Kelley, Executive Director

Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce