感恩

護家中心 – 王美燕    11/2014

    十一月在美國有一個重大的節日—-感恩節。源於十七世紀清教徒從英國移民來美國的新英倫地區, 在秋收季節為慶祝順利收割而創下的一個傳統。在美國獨立前, 多是由教會舉辦一年一度的慶典。首任總統華盛頓正式命定十一月最後的週四為國立公眾感恩節, 讓全國民眾一同以感激的心回應神賜予的恩典。現今的新傳統則是總統在白宮” 放生” 一只火雞, 意思是讓活火雞自由地在農場走動, 頗有美國立國的民主自由精神。

中國家庭多不是隨俗吃頓火雞餐。一家團聚吃的也是中國菜。我家的兩個土生的孩子重視感恩節多於聖節誕節或中國新年。從小孩開始, 感恩節前幾天, 她們便嚷著要買火雞。當天的上午我忙著煮中國式的餡—-香菇、臘腸、蝦米、洋葱拌糯米飯。將餡填入雞腔後, 用針線替火雞做縫合手術,這一個環節是小女孩覺得最有趣的。其後就是送雞入烤箱, 三個多小時後, 色味俱佳端上桌面。孩子長大後, 她們主動負責做土豆泥(mashed potatoes) 和四季豆。我家的傳統是在吃飯前拍一個全家照, 把母女合作在厨房裡忙活了半天的成果留下紀念。當爸爸的也沒閑著, 用利刃尖叉切開一片片嫩脆的火雞  肉。

近年來,我家在信仰方面較成熟, 飯前的傳統加添了感恩禱告。孩子離家後, 很多年沒有全家過節。今年的感恩節, 兩個女兒都答應抽空回家, 連她們的另一半都出席。在這個時節,特別讓我感受到神給予我數算不盡的恩典。為我擁有蒙福的家而感恩!

Thanksgiving                   By Elisa Wang

       In November, the US has a major festival —- Thanksgiving. During the 17th century, Puritan immigrants who came to the US from England celebrated the harvest season and turned this celebration into a tradition. Before US’s Independence, most annual celebrations were organized by church until the first president, George Washington, officially ordained the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday for people across the country to worship with a grateful heart to God’s grace. Today’s new tradition is for the President at the White House to “release” a turkey, which symbolizes letting the turkey live freely and walk around the farm; this represents the founding spirit of the USA – democracy and freedom.

Most Chinese families do not eat a traditional turkey meal. Their Thanksgiving gathering dinners are Chinese food. For my two children who were born in the States, they like to celebrate Thanksgiving more than Christmas and Chinese New Year. When they were young, a few days before Thanksgiving, they would be clamoring to buy a turkey. On the morning of Thanksgiving, I made Chinese style stuffing of mushrooms, sausages, dried shrimps, and onions mixed with sweet rice. After stuffing the turkey, I used a needle and thread to sew the opening part of the bird. This was something my little girls found most interesting. Then the bird was sent into the oven. A few hours later, a golden brown shiny turkey was presented on the table. As the kids grew up, they took the initiative to be responsible for making mashed potatoes and green beans. My family tradition has been taking a family photo before the meal to commemorate a mother-daughter job well done. Their father is the proud chef carving the turkey and serving the tender and juicy pieces on our plates.

It has been a long while since the whole family is together for Thanksgiving. This year, my two daughters will be coming home. I feel especially thankful that this is a year full of abundant blessings for our family.