For my article this week, I decided to ask people (young and old) what they were thankful for this Thanksgiving. Truly, we have much to thank God for! I offer my thanks to all who helped me with this, and wish all of you a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for . . .
- The health of my family.
- Taking naps on the couch or in the backyard.
- Driving the scenic route.
- Community events open to the public.
- My (flawed) relationships with God and my family, both immediate and extended. Flawed relationships are much better than none at all!
- My wife and I have grown together and I am constantly grateful and impressed as she matures.
- The Word of God.
- Brief and productive meetings.
- Quilts and blankets, to keep me warm.
- My wonderful family and for my best friend, who has always been there with quiet support, encouragement, and words of wisdom, through thick and thin since the day we met.
- The incredible diversity of people on this planet.
- Co-workers who don’t mind switching their days off to help you out.
- Toys.
- Dirty dishes because it means we have eaten. Thank you for baby giggles; they keep me sane.
- That God made me.
- Teddy bears.
- The feel of a child’s hand in mine.
- Waking up when you need to even when the alarm doesn’t go off.
- Babies.
- The day being silent now that it’s over for the little ones.
- Movies and CDs being available at libraries.
- The convenience of e-mail.
- Wrinkle-free clothing.
- Christmas lights.
- Friends who care about me enough to tell me when I am being stupid.
- Our Veterans.
- Books, because I can experience the world, learn new things, laugh, cry and connect without ever leaving my couch.
- My job, especially in this economy.
- Religious leaders.
- Volunteers.
- A cup of hot cocoa on a cold day.
- Family and friends; love them all!
- The smell of homemade desserts baking in the oven.
- Listening to beautiful music.
- Friends meeting over a cup of tea; a fire in the hearth; a friendly game of Scrabble.
- My kids, who can always make me laugh.
- Being friends with my parents.
- Every member of my family, especially for my mom who is a constant source of support, encouragement and friendship.
- Enjoyable conversation between friends.
- Hugs.
- My family, have a job, having health insurance, and being loved as much as I am.
- My health, even if I complain about certain aches and pains!
- My family, my fiancé and being able to go to college.
- Having a roof over my head.
- Finding a dollar in an old coat you haven’t worn in years.
- Enjoyable hobbies and pursuits in life.
- The forgiveness of God.
- Schools and colleges.
- A dictionary & thesaurus, both within arms reach.
- Repairing an object yourself and having it come out perfectly.
- Hot showers after a hard day of work to ease away the stress of the day.
- The express line at the grocery store.
- The generosity of strangers.
- “Chick Flicks” vs. “Action Movies” and explaining why yours is more
enjoyable to the “other team”. - Tossed aside treasures at tag sales or wherever they may be found.
- Duct-Tape!
- Good role-models we can point to for children to aspire to emulate.
- Indoor plumbing – imagine life without it.
- Date nights.
- Inspiring words that lift our souls in times of crisis.
- Youth and amateur sports leagues to both watch and play in.
- People who obey traffic regulations.
- The trials and losses in my life for they have helped me become a stronger and better person!
- Our favorite instructors and teachers.
- People who enjoy reading what we write.
- Chocolate!
- Hidden places that you can sneak away to.
- Health care workers.
- Internet Maps and GPS devices.
- Lucky old coins and favorite treasures, both precious and humble.
- The spring that will come after the winter.
- All those who came before us great and small have a story to tell. That
is what history is all about. So I am thankful to be able to know and learn
their story. - Old libraries and their treasures which lay hidden and wait to be
re-discovered. - People with interesting personalities who make the world better or at
the very least, more interesting. - Brothers and sisters.
- Word processing software.
- Sitting in an open field on a crystal clear night and enjoying the
celestial display above. - Our furry four-legged friends who have chosen to live their lives with us.
- Being able to sit at a computer and just watch music videos when we are
supposed to be working. - Sunrises, sunsets, ocean waves, hidden forests, mossy rocks and mountain
streams and all the other wonderments of nature. - Our Guardian Angels who stay with us even when we try to refuse their help.
- A child’s laughter.
- The wisdom of elders.
- Works of art.
- Those perfect parking places which sometimes we are lucky enough to get.
- The creative minds of others and what they share with us all.
- Photos, for capturing a moment in time.
- Relaxing periods of quiet during a busy day.
- To live in a free country.
- Bookmarks! No need to fold pages!
- Museums.
- Social Networking sites. I’ve always wanted to know what people I
haven’t seen since grade school are up to. - Sweaters, hats, scarves and gloves.
- Search engine searches that actually turn up useful results.
- Good listeners.
- Parks.
- Hand-written letters.
- Bread, the universal side to any meal.
- Buy one, get two free sales.
- People who commit their lives to protecting and preserving our cities, states and country.