It was 28 years ago. I was a young dad with two babies under three.

那是28年前，我是一個年輕的奶爸，帶著兩個不到三歲的孩子。

My Mom and Dad had invited us to their home for Thanksgiving dinner.

我的父母邀請我和孩子們去他們家吃感恩節大餐。

Their tiny house was packed. There was my wife, myself, and our babies.

他們的房子很小，有些擁擠。我和我的妻子，還有我的孩子們都在那里。

My two brothers were also there with their families as well.

我的兩個兄弟，還有他們的家人也都在那里。

The kitchen table was full and people were eating on TV trays and with plates in their laps.

餐桌邊圍滿了人，每個人都吃著電視托盤上的食物，餐碟在他們的大腿上。

We eased around each other so as not to spill our overflowing plates and full glasses.

我們的盤子里堆滿了食物，杯子里裝滿了飲料，每個人都在調整姿勢，以免漏撒到別人身上。

Tummies were being filled with turkey, gravy, potatoes, stuffing, buttered rolls, and pumpkin pie.

我們的肚子里塞滿了火雞肉，肉汁，烤土豆，火雞填餡，黃油面包卷，還有南瓜派。

Old memories were being shared with laughter and love. A dozen different conversations were going on at once.

我們分享著共同的回憶，我們同時聊著十幾種不同的話題，言笑晏晏，愛意濃濃。

I sat off to the side, silently sipping my sweet tea and taking it all in.

最后，我坐到一旁，安靜的一邊呷著茶，一邊把這些都深深的印入腦海。

I saw my baby girl in her high chair with her face covered in mashed potatoes.

我看到我的小女兒，她坐在嬰兒餐椅里，臉上糊滿了土豆泥。

My little boy was still eating while gravy dripped down his shirt.

我的小兒子還在吃,肉汁從他的襯衣上滴下來。

My Mom was cutting up the pumpkin pie for dessert with a smile on her face.

我媽媽正把作為甜點的南瓜派切成一塊一塊的，臉上洋溢著微笑。

My wife and sisters-in-law were talking in one corner while my Dad and two brothers were laughing and teasing each other in the living room.

我的妻子和弟妹在餐廳角落里聊天，我的爸爸和兩個兄弟在客廳里相互調侃，大聲歡笑。

As I watched it all, suddenly I had a feeling in the center of my chest.

我看著這一切，內心油然升起一種特殊的感受。

It was a curious mixture of peace, contentment, love, and joy.

我感到安寧，滿足，愛和喜悅以奇妙的方式在我的心中調和著。

It made me feel full to overflowing in my heart as well as my stomach.

我的心和胃一樣滿滿的，簡直爆棚。

I realized then what I was feeling: a moment of pure thankfulness on Thanksgiving Day.

這時我明白了這種奇異的感受，這就是感恩節上最虔誠的感恩。

So many years have gone by since then. Still, that moment lives on in my heart like it was yesterday.

從那時起過了許多年。但是，那段時光還活在我心里，宛如昨日。

It wasn’t the food that made it so special. It was the coming together as a family in love.

讓這個日子如此特殊的并不是那些美食，而是彼此相愛的家人歡聚一堂。

My Mom and Dad have passed on to Heaven now and my brothers and I don’t see each other as much as I would like.

我的父母都已仙逝，我的兄弟和我也不常見面，雖然我很希望多見見他們。

Yet, I can still feel their love for me. I carry it always in my heart and soul.

不過，我仍能感受到他們對我的愛。我總把他們的愛放在心尖，刻入我的靈魂。

Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday that we celebrate once a year.

感恩節并不單單只是一個一年一度的節日。

It is a way of life. When we fill our hearts with thankfulness we open them to even more blessings.

它是一種生活方式。當我們心中裝滿感恩的心情，我們就能敞開心扉，迎接更多的幸福。

When we fill our hearts with love we become the people we were always meant to be.

當我們的心中充滿愛，我們就能成為自己一直希望成為的人。

And when we share that love with others we make this world what it was meant to be as well.

當我們把愛分享給別人，我們也能讓世界成為更好的世界。

May all of your days be full of Thanksgiving then. May all of your moments be full of Love!

讓你的每一天都充滿感恩吧!愿你生命中每一刻都充滿愛!