Thanksgiving, Vol. 2

Thanksgiving 2020 is in just a matter of days, which seems so insane that it's both already here and it's taken so long to get here at the same time. I've been thinking and thinking and thinking of something to say about a COVID Thanksgiving, but these last two holidays of the year are just hitting a little differently in this pandemic/quarantine/whatever season. Celebrations are going to look different for pretty much everyone, and pretty much everyone is feeling the weight of that right now. For me personally, I've been trying to focus less on what's going to be different and focus more on the underlying meaning of this holiday - thankfulness. There's been a lot to be sad about this year, and that's okay. But as I look back on my year, I can also see the little blessings that look a little bigger this year than maybe they normally would have. So while I go through each of these songs, I'll explain a little bit about what they've made me think about and be thankful for this year, and I hope they cause you to do some reflection of your own on the little blessings in your life.

How Great Thou Art by Chris Rice (written by S. Hine)

Chris Rice is making his second annual appearance on the Thanksgiving playlist with this hymn from his 2006 album Peace Like a River: The Hymns Project. It's really no secret to anyone that I'm pretty obsessed with this whole album, and How Great Thou Art is my all time favorite hymn, so any excuse to listen to this song is fine by me. This year, more than ever before, I've been so thankful for my church family. As an active member of my church's praise team, I had a really hard time while churches were shut down during quarantine because it meant the praise team was working basically on a skeleton crew and I only got to see my friends every 3-4 weeks. I thought, as an introvert, I'd be pretty cool with that, but when I FaceTimed with a few of my singer friends and started crying my eyes out when we hung up, I knew that was no longer the case. Coming back to in person worship, though it still looks different than it did before March, has been so refreshing and has packed a whole new energy into everything, and I have God to thank for all of the above.

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder/Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made/I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder/Thy power throughout the universe displayed/Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee/How great Thou art, how great Thou art/Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee/How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Psalm 86:10 NLT For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.

Friends by Empire of the Sun (written by J. Sloan, L. Steele, N. Littlemore, P. Mayes)

This is a cheery little song with lyrics that don't exactly match, featured on Empire of the Sun's 2016 album Two Vines. I'll admit that I don't relate to the lyrics 100%, but that title does remind me how thankful I am for my friends. I've got friends out of state that I'm not sure when I'll be able to see again with all of the weirdness with travel going on. I've got friends in healthcare and education that I pray for daily because they're being asked to do the impossible. One of the most exciting events of the year was getting to go to one of my college best friends' wedding, and while it was, again, different than it would have been without COVID, just getting to see her and some of my other college friends in person was like a breath of fresh air.

Straight down the line, I watch you disappear/Before my eyes, saw through solid air/They said you're fine, that I shouldn't even care/But I got wise, sought to find you there/Sliding doors and the thirteenth floor/It shifts and I don't wind up/Mountain rising out of my head/And you never looked this good, never looked this good/No one ever said that you'd be back here/Now I gotta be scared of my friend/No one ever said that you'd be back here/Now I gotta be scared of my friend

Jump In the Line by Harry Belafonte (written by A. Pérez, C. Sparks, R. de León, S. Henriiques, S. Somvel)

Jordan. Why is the goofy dance song from the end of Beetlejuice on your Thanksgiving playlist? Well, first, stop judging me, I get final say. Second, hello, have you never been to a Thanksgiving meal where you had to stand in a makeshift buffet line in the kitchen to get your food? My family doesn't do that set everything on the table nonsense, there's no way everything would fit when we can't even fit everyone at one table. Yes, this one's a little goofier, but the thought of "jumping in the line" for dinner made me think about past Thanksgivings and how while the waiting in line for food part is annoying, most other parts of the day are not, from watching the annual Dallas football game to looking through all of the Black Friday ads in the newspaper.

Shake, shake, shake señora, shake your body line/Shake, shake, shake señora, shake it all the time/Work, work, work señora, work your body line/Work, work, work señora, work it all the time/My girl's name is Señora/I tell you friends, I adore her/And when she dances, oh brother/She's a hurricane in all kinds of weather/Jump in the line, rock your body in time, okay, I believe you/Jump in the line, rock your body in time, okay, I believe you/Jump in the line, rock your body in time, okay, I believe you/Jump in the line, rock your body in time, oh

I'll Be There by Jackson 5 (written by B. Gordy, B. West, H. Davis, W. Hutchison)

This classic ballad from the Jackson 5's 1970 album Third Album (yeah okay I had to laugh at the title, that's like something my husband and I would name something as a joke) keeps up the trend of me thinking about my friends and family this year. I've talked a lot more on the phone to people over these last several months because it's just been really nice to hear voices when it's not always guaranteed you'll get to see someone's face. It's so reassuring when you know the people that'll be there for you no matter what.

You and I must make a pack/We must bring salvation back/Where there is love, I'll be there/I'll reach out my hand to you/I'll have faith in all you do/Just call my name, and I'll be there/And oh, I'll be there to comfort you/Build my world of dreams around you/I'm so glad that I found you/I'll be there with a love that's strong/I'll be your strength, I'll keep holding on/Yes, I'll be, yes, I'll be

Georgia On My Mind by Michael Bublé (written by H. Carmichael, S. Gorell)

Bublé, the Holiday King himself, recorded this classic cover for his 2009 album Crazy Love. I couldn't help but remember back to being in college while listening to this song and how it felt to start the drive home for holiday breaks each year. My drive wasn't the longest, but two hours in the car can feel like a really, really long time when you're alone and the scenery is incredibly dull all around you. But the closer I got to getting home, the more excited I would become, and there was nothing like walking back through my parents' front door and immediately feeling at home.

Georgia, Georgia, the whole way through/Just an old, sweet song that keeps Georgia on my mind, on my mind/I said Georgia, mmm, Georgia, a song of you/Comes as sweet and clear as the moonlight through the pines, you know it does, babe/Other arms reach out to me/Other eyes smile tenderly/Still in peaceful dreams, I see/The road leads back to you

For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder (written by O. Murden, R. Miller)

Another classic, this song was included on Wonder's 1968 album For Once in My Life and it's still a total bop today. It's fun, it's upbeat, and it had me feeling so thankful for the wonderful man I married. We, like so many other couples all around the world, have had to learn to coexist on a whole new level this year with working from home, but I couldn't have asked for a better quarantine partner. We've learned a lot about each other since being together almost 24/7 since March, which is saying something since we've been together for eleven and a half years, and it's made us stronger as a couple.

For once in my life, I have someone who needs me/Someone I needed so long/For once, unafraid, I can go where life needs me/Somehow, I know I'll be strong/For once, I can touch what my heart used to dream of/Long before I knew/Oh, someone warm like you/Would make my dreams come true/For once in my life, I won't let sorrow hurt me/Not like it's hurt me before/For once, I have something I know won't desert me/I'm not alone anymore/For once, I can say, "This is mine, you can't take it"/As long as I know I have love, I can make it/For once in my life,I have someone who needs me

Thanksgiving Theme by Vince Guaraldi Trio (written by V. Guaraldi)

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving may not be as cemented into most peoples' brains like its Halloween and Christmas counterparts, but it's still a fun watch this time of year because, hello, how can you be in a bad mood while watching Snoopy? Guaraldi, who composed pretty much all of the music for every original Peanuts TV special, has a way of evoking mental images of each holiday just through his melodies, and this instrumental piece is a perfect one to have on in the background during your Thanksgiving dinner.

This week, remember to be kind to people. Everyone is feeling something different this holiday season, and you never know what the person next to you is really going through. Call or text your friends and family, especially if you aren't going to be able to see them in person, and be nice to yourself as well, and we will get through this thing together. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!