Earlier this year, a new Nebraska statue arrived in the U.S. Capitol. Each state memorializes two people in the Capitol building, and our newest addition is Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather. One quote by Cather, from her novel My Ántonia, encapsulates what I’m thankful for during this season of gratitude:
“We were talking about what it is like to spend one’s childhood in little towns like these, buried in wheat and corn, under stimulating extremes of climate: burning summers when the world lies green and billowy beneath a brilliant sky, when one is fairly stifled in vegetation, in the color and smell of strong weeds and heavy harvests; blustery winters with little snow, when the whole country is stripped bare and gray as sheet-iron.”
Since its inception, Thanksgiving has been a day of remembrance. The pilgrims spent the holiday reflecting on their arrival in the New World. They remembered the bounty of America and the beginnings of their new lives here. As Nebraskans, we have the opportunity to remember our own beginnings this Thanksgiving. Just as the pilgrims traveled across the world to reach their new home, the pioneers who founded Nebraska traveled across miles of unfamiliar wilderness to settle in a new place.
Cather’s quote describes the natural glory our ancestors found when they arrived in what would soon become our country’s 37th state. As Nebraskans, we have all experienced that glory. As much as I travel across Nebraska, I never forget the singular beauty of our state and its intrinsic connection to the land.
Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude. As we remember the blessings of our country and our state, we also give thanks for the blessings in our individual lives. Nebraskans gather each Thanksgiving with family and friends to acknowledge the things we are grateful for, from jobs to harvests to loved ones. And of course, we can’t forget the food. Festive Thanksgiving spreads encourage us to share, enjoy, and give thanks.
One way to share our gratitude is by showing kindness to others. For many Nebraskans, Thanksgiving is a day of service. I’ve seen several heartwarming examples of this leading up to Thanksgiving. One organization that helps people with breast cancer hosted Thanksgiving meals in Lincoln and Ralston where survivors shared stories and gratitude with one another. That kind of camaraderie is vital for those in treatment or recovering from treatment. The organization will also deliver Thanksgiving meals to breast cancer survivors ahead of the holiday weekend.
That isn’t the only nonprofit providing for those in need this Thanksgiving. The Salvation Army of Lincoln has been preparing all month to pass out Thanksgiving meal boxes to families across the city. Staff at Salvation Army hope to serve over 600 families this Thanksgiving season so that Nebraskans can celebrate the holiday despite difficult circumstances.
In the holiday hustle, let’s remember those less fortunate and those who may not have a place to celebrate this Thanksgiving. Let’s remember to share our love and gratitude to the loved ones we see over the holiday. I wish you all a Thanksgiving full of joy and laughter as you gather to reflect on life’s blessings.