I have spent much of my life working in social service organizations of one form or another, so I am profoundly aware of the difficulty this time of year can present for so many people. When you are supposed to feel joyful and grateful, some people simply don’t – for any number of reasons. Life is not always kind or fair. Sometimes life is hard, even if the calendar disagrees.
However, the community of PEP has once again offered me another perspective on this time of year. Sometimes the joy and gratitude are not only present, but they are amplified. Such was the case, this past Thanksgiving during the PEP celebration with staff, volunteers and participants. Let me tell you – we had a spread! I carved five turkeys and our office was filled with food. By the end of the day – it was gone.
As I watched our guys PILE food on their plates, I had not considered how meaningful a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal for the first time in years could mean to someone. Our guys have worked hard, and it was clear to me that this was a moment to celebrate!
This is what PEP makes possible. People make mistakes – some learn from them; others do not. Some not only learn, but they work hard to overcome the ripple effects of those mistakes.
This season is not always easy, and there are always reasons why people can find it difficult to celebrate today; but there are also reasons why we should – and those are the ones that I celebrate all the more.