Grief, Growth, and Grace: A Thanksgiving Recipe for Healing

This Thanksgiving, I want to acknowledge something we don’t always talk about: for many of us, the past few years have been a difficult journey. My family knows this deeply. We’ve faced the heartbreak of losing loved ones, the uncertainty of losing jobs, and the upheaval of losing our home. But it’s not just us. Across the table, across the country, so many families are grappling with their own challenges—whether it’s grieving a loss, feeling the strain of inflation, struggling to make ends meet, or just carrying the weight of too many “what ifs.”

If this resonates with you, know you’re not alone. Whether your struggles are visible or quietly hidden, they are part of life’s bittersweet recipe. And while Thanksgiving might feel like a time to focus only on the good, I believe it’s also a time to hold space for the whole mix—grief, growth, and grace. Just like baking a pie, it’s about transforming life’s raw, messy ingredients into something nourishing and beautiful.

Grief: The Bitter Ingredients

Grief is the sour lemon or the sharp spices in a recipe. It’s hard to swallow on its own. For some, it’s the loss of a loved one; for others, it’s the loss of financial stability, security, or even a sense of control. Grief reminds us of what we’ve loved and valued most, even as it hurts.

This Thanksgiving, take a moment to acknowledge the “bitter” parts of your life—the struggles, the losses, the unspoken fears. They are as much a part of your story as the joyful moments, and they shape who we are.

Growth: The Baking Process

Growth is the messy, in-between stage. It’s the sticky dough that doesn’t quite cooperate, the filling that bubbles over, and the waiting as the pie bakes. Growth is the hard work of turning life’s challenges into opportunities to learn, adapt, and rebuild.

Like a pie baking in the oven, growth takes time. Maybe you’re not where you want to be yet, but if you’re here—showing up, trying, holding it together the best you can—you’re already growing. The heat of life’s trials may feel overwhelming, but it’s also what softens the hard edges and brings out the sweetness.

Grace: The Sweet, Imperfect Finish

Grace is the slice of pie that comes out just slightly uneven, but perfect in its own way. It’s the reminder that life doesn’t have to be flawless to be beautiful. Grace is the unexpected sweetness we find in small moments—like a child’s laughter, a kind word, or the comfort of a warm meal shared with loved ones.

This Thanksgiving, I invite you to give yourself grace. Let go of the need for perfection—whether in your holiday plans, your family dynamics, or your life as a whole. Celebrate what you have, even if it’s not everything you hoped for. Grace is the finishing touch that allows us to savor life’s complexity, not in spite of its messiness, but because of it.

An Invitation to the Table

This Thanksgiving, my family and I are bringing grief, growth, and grace to the table—and I hope you will too. Let’s honor the losses and struggles that have shaped us, embrace the growth they’ve sparked, and find joy in the grace that carries us through. Together, we can transform life’s raw ingredients into something nourishing, meaningful, and uniquely ours.

From my family to yours, wishing you love, resilience, and a warm slice of pie.

With gratitude,
Kimchi and Beans