I got this little plaque on a recent trip to Cannon Beach, Oregon (and if you want one, then you can get it here). It occurs to me that in many ways, parents and teachers are the ultimate oysters…dedicating the majority of our lives to raising our little pearls, which is not a bad thing at all. But always being the oyster can be exhausting and often thankless. So as we head into yet another holiday season, my Thanksgiving wish for you is to be the pearl…just for a while. Carve out a little time for yourself when no one needs you for anything and do whatever brings your heart joy. If someone asks you to make dinner or help with homework, just tell them to wait a little while – you are busy being a pearl. There is plenty of time to be the oyster.

By the way, the words in the corner that are too tiny to read say: that wisdom which comes from being counted worthy of receiving.