Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday that has evolved over the years. From the Pilgrims celebrating their first bountiful corn harvest, to George Washington asking the American people to express gratitude for the happy conclusion to the Revolutionary War, to Abraham Lincoln making Thanksgiving an official American holiday to heal the wounds of the nation during the Civil War. It has been a holiday rooted in gratitude.
Today’s version of Thanksgiving celebrated with tables overflowing with turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and televised parades and football games may seem to be a far cry from its original roots. Many things have changed, but people have not. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to have an attitude of gratitude.
Robert Emmons, the author of Gratitude Works, defines Thanksgiving as, “An awareness of how we are supported and sustained by others and a desire to give back to the good that we have received.”
If your life has been touched by embryo adoption, whether you adopted embryos or donated them to another family, this can be a great time to think back to all the good you have received through the past year that this unique family building option has brought you and your family.
This may include:
- Achieving pregnancy when you were told it may not be possible for you.
- Knowing your embryo donation gift helped another family experience parenthood when they may have otherwise would not have.
- Celebrating your first embryo adopted baby’s (or babies’!) first Thanksgiving.
- Rejoicing in that you now have an amazing “second family” through the miracle of open adoption.
- Being able to freely raise awareness about embryo adoption and donation with other families so that they may be experience the same joy and gratitude that you do.
This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 25th, which is also Embryo Adoption Awareness Day. Whatever you do this Thanksgiving, may it be meaningful and filled with gratitude.
To learn more about embryo adoption and donation, visit EmbryoAdoption.org.
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