Jennifer Lyn

Thanksgiving and Friendship

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Jennifer Lyn

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Autumn Reflections in the Austrian Alps
Autumn Reflections in the Austrian Alps

Grace, Gratitude, and Living Abroad

This month, Meredith Simmons, a friend I met at a writers conference in New York City 8 years ago, asked me to write about gratitude and grace. She has posted my piece at her blog — I’d love it if on this week of thanksgiving you’d want to read about the grace I found in walking in others’ shoes while living abroad.

“… it wasn’t until I walked the desolate streets of Terezín, a Nazi concentration camp just north of Prague, and soon after began reading about and hearing stories from friends, about what happened to their families during Communism, and the forced labor camps at the Uranium mines, that my questions began to change. By learning about them, about their history, I began to see things from their side …” Click here for more.

Thanksgiving and Friendship

This past week, I turned 40. It was a wonderful week full of celebrating with my family and lots and lots of friends. As with all of those types of life milestones, I’ve been thinking about the importance of things and people in life. The older I get, the more I realize that friends are one of life’s greatest gifts.

Jennifer Lyn King

There are so many things for which to be thankful — I love Thanksgiving for that reason. After 4 years abroad for Thanksgiving, with the holiday being a normal day not involving turkey or gatherings with family or friends, this year I’m especially thankful for Thanksgiving and friendship. We’ll be celebrating over turkey and wine with dear friends and family. It’s a gift, one of the best times in life, celebrating and sharing stories and thankfulness with friends.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by the ones you love and cherish.

 

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2 responses to “Thanksgiving and Friendship”

  1. Kim Andersen Avatar
    Kim Andersen

    Jennifer,

    I lived in Mainz, Germany for three years with my family of 3 children and husband. I was anxious to experience the “culture shock” of different places, foods, and people. However, I was unprepared for the culture shock of getting up on Thanksgiving Day and realizing it was just another day for most of the people around me. I know you understand what I mean by this:) I also wanted to tell you I had the privilege of visiting Berlin (twice) when the wall stood as a barrier between freedom and opportunity, and oppression. I passed through the Iron Curtain at Check Point Charlie into East Berlin on both visits (once on a communist holiday.) I was struck by how somber everything was. Buildings were still riddled with bullet holes from WWII, people didn’t smile, and the city and apartment buildings were dimly lit at night. I left Germany in June of 1989 having no clue the wall would come down a few months later. What I would have given to have been in Berlin when it did.

    In June of 2008 I visited Prague. It is one of my favorite European cities. I saw some literature about Terezin in my hotel. I desperately wanted to take a tour, but was unable to because of time constraints. When I returned home, I read everything I could about it I teach elementary school children about WWII and the Holocaust, and I wanted to show them pictures of the art work created by children at Terezin. While looking for copies of their art on line, I read about Friedl Dicker-Brandeis. Do you know of her? If not, take a moment to look up what she did for the children at Terezin.

    We have much in common–at least we’ve walked many of the same paths in life and shared many of the same thoughts. Perhaps that makes us kindred spirits.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours

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    1. Jennifer King Avatar
      Jennifer King

      When I read this note last week, it struck me deeply. It’s so interesting and amazing to see how our lives might cross and intersect with others, worldwide, throughout time. I’m so glad to hear more of your story. I definitely know of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis. The stories surrounding Terezin have changed my perspective forever. A wonderful novel partially set in Terezin is Alyson Richman’s THE LOST WIFE. It is excellent — I highly recommend it. Thank you, again, Kim!

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