I am leaving in the morning for Iowa and the annual celebration of Giving Thanks. This year it will be different because one of my children moved to Heaven this year and won’t be there to join our celebration. We will prepare his favorite salad “Ribbon Jello” and eat it in his wonderful memory. We will, I’m sure, shed a fair amount of tears and we will probably sit around and talk about years gone by with the fondest of memories. Is it going to be a Happy Thanksgiving? It will be as happy as we choose to make it. Am I still thankful even with all that has taken place this year? Yes, I have much to be thankful for. I have 3 other children each with a great spouse. I have 6 beautiful grandchildren that I literally live to be with. I am 53 years old and my life has been blessed. I live in a country where I don’t have to be afraid to worship my Heavenly Father. I have the freedom to go to the church of my choice and praise God in a manner that I choose to. I don’t have to be afraid to walk down the street in the city I live in. I have been blessed to be born into a family that lives in the United States.
Do you as an American realize how blessed you are to live where we do and how much sacrifice was given for our “land of the free and home of the brave”? I am thankful there were people who left the land they were living in to find a land where they could have religious freedom. I am thankful they established this United States and I am living here and enjoying the freedoms they began to set forth so very many years ago. As you go about your preparation for your holiday gathering this week take a moment to remember those who came before us and gave us the privilege to share this country. Please remember those young men and women that are fighting right now to protect our land and give us the opportunity to share our day of thanks with our families.
May you find so much to be thankful for you can’t get it all into one prayer or can’t even begin to express it to those you love. No matter what you have gone thru this year I am sure you can find a few things in your life to give thanks for. I am thankful for my family, my friends, the fact that my son knew Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior before he moved to Heaven. I am thankful for my friends who will come to my aid when the tears won’t stop and don’t tell me I just need to get over it. I am thankful I will have a wonderful turkey dinner to share with family. I am thankful for my home.
No matter what I have gone thru this year I am thankful. Embrace your families this year and count your blessings. We have so much to give thanks for. I just remembered what I am most thankful for is God’s grace and mercy. Without that gift from Him I would be headed for hell, not a place I want to see. I have an appointment to see my son in a few years. And remember don’t just be thankful on Thursday, November 22nd. but be thankful each and everyday you are given from God.
