Isn’t it Thanksgiving every day?
With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I am thinking how grateful I am for my life, my God, my family and friends.
The multicolored leaves in Michigan have fallen and now we will enjoy time with family and friends before the cold winter sets in. On Thursday, most Americans will enjoy Thanksgiving with turkey and all the wonderful bounty our land provides.
Very soon it will be Black Friday and before dawn the shopping will begin. Merchants will include prayers for big spending from that day until the holiday season and the entire country will wait to see signs of a better economy. Football will be part of the weekend TV and some families will argue why some get to watch TV while others spend hours cleaning up the remains of that wonderful dinner they just ate.
Michigan ranks among the worst in the nation for unemployment and stagnant growth. My family in general has been lucky enough to work mainly. I have been unemployed for some time and just do some online marketing along with a new contract sales job that I was lucky enough to find. My son has recently lost his job, but he is trying his best to get ahead while he applies everywhere to earn some money. He has an interview on Monday, so we’re hoping for the best.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I find that it is not very special to me. It will certainly be fun to enjoy the meeting with my Parents, my Brother, my Children and their spouses and my adorable Grandchildren. However, it occurs to me that each day brings wonder and awe. God hurts us in many ways every day. The sun shining through the trees and creating wonderful shadows. The big cloud formations again the blue sky, the bare trees full of birds and squirrels add to my joy. Friends who call to share good news or even those with problems where I feel like I’m helping them make the day worthwhile.
Almost everyone is healthy and happy, even though many of us don’t have any money. One of my favorite November events is learning that my eighty-five year old father, who is a disabled World War II Marine veteran, was asked again this year to help place the veterans wreath on the veterans day in your city. My pride in that brings a lot of emotion. Knowing that my Father and Mother are still here and will enjoy and celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary on Sunday makes Thanksgiving an everyday event for me.
If we can look at the World and see the beauty, enjoy the sights, hear the sounds and stand in awe like children at the miracles that happen every day, we will learn to give thanks all day every day. If we can begin each day with a prayer of thanksgiving for our lives and those of our loved ones, we will begin the day with an attitude of gratitude and continue to cherish moments throughout the day.
Being happy is often a choice. Not everything goes as planned, but it is God’s plan and we must accept it as it comes. There is a reason for everything in this World and although today we do not understand what that reason is, it is possible that one day we will understand it. We are not in charge. We have free will and we can think about how we live, how we treat and respect others. We can think about finding joy in living or not. Joy and happiness is easier for us and also for those around us. Hopefully you thing to be happy.
I’ve heard a family plan for this year’s holiday season and it’s very inspiring. They plan to do more and give less. The idea is to help others, donating to food banks, clothing drives, and helping with Thanksgiving and other free dinners for those in need this year. Spend less on others and more on those who have so much less will be your Christmas plan.
My sincere wishes to all of you this Thanksgiving week is to truly give thanks for all that you have, not to overdo anything, and to share what you can with those in need. Another time, I’ll ask you to donate to a good cause you believe in, even if it’s to simplify your life and clean out a closet.
Happy Holidays to all!