THANKFULNESS

With Thanksgiving upon us, I think that a Musings on the subject of thankfulness would be appropriate. As far as I know, and I could be wrong, Thanksgiving came into being after the Pilgrims had their first harvest.

It has become a national custom in this country to set aside a day in November as a day of thanksgiving. For many, it is a day of rejoicing when family and friends get together to eat and visit. For others, it is a day with sadness, especially if they are alone. Perhaps they have lost a loved one and the mere fact that they can’t get together for the holiday with their family or friends makes the day one of sorrow instead of thanksgiving.

I just can’t visualize but what every single, solitary, soul should have something to be thankful for. If nothing else, we should all be thankful for the good things that we have and, also, for the bad things we don’t have. Another way of expressing, somewhat, the same thought would be that even though we can’t have all we want, we ought to be grateful we don’t get what we deserve.

Some of the best things to be thankful for are constantly near by. Robert Louis Stevenson said, “The best things are the nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand and the path of God just before you,”

Of late, the obituary columns have reported on several individuals, in my age bracket whom I have known. This sure helps me to be thankful for life. I’ve had one heart attack and a by-pass operation and I’m still here. You think I’m not grateful? You bet your boots I am. I have a wife and a living son, his wife and two fine grandchildren. There is something else that I am grateful for. Even though my oldest son died last November, I am thankful that he had as many good years on earth as he had and that he now dwells in a place where there is no pain, sickness, or sorrow.

If, by chance, today’s readers, after reading the preceding paragraphs, have not thought of anything that they are thankful for let me offer the following: Be grateful for the doors of opportunity and for the friends who oil the hinges. Be grateful for what you do have, not regretful for what you haven’t. Last, but not least, is that he who forgets the language of gratitude can never be on speaking terms with happiness.

Gube  1996

Here we go again! We Americans are about to celebrate Thanksgiving, 2006. For most of us this means the traditional huge dinner with friends and relatives, whether it is turkey, ham, or something else as a change of pace.

Many people will be taking to the airways and highways to be sure they can spend this important holiday with family members. They’re willing to put up with the long lines at airports, the security checks, and the high prices just to be able to see people they may only see once or twice a year.

I guess my question here is: do we undertake all these activities with a true sense of Thanksgiving? What do you think? Seems to be me that Thanksgiving is both a state of mind and an act of will for each of us. Those of us who are Christians are supposed to give thanks in all things - sometimes a difficult thing to do. And yet, when we stop to think about it, each of us has so much for which to be thankful.

A blind neighbor of my son said in a poem she sent me recently,

“For the things I have seen, I am thankful, dear god.
The stars, the moon, and the goldenrod.
All the flowers that bloom in the warmth of spring,
Green grass, butterflies, and the birds that sing.

Fields of ripe wheat, and large herds of cows,
Oh, what would I give to see all these now?
Autumn leaves, red, yellow and gold,
For these are more beautiful than ever was told.

My Mother and father who taught me to love,
And to store my treasures in Heaven above.
The man who I love and shares with me
every day of his life, everything that he sees.

My baby girl’s face on the day of her birth,
For nothing sweeter was ever on earth.
And when I am blind, and feel life is so mean,
I will stop and praise god for the things I have seen.

Elaine “For The Things I Have Seen” 1978″

I do believe she says it all. My list would be very long if I were to list all the things for which I am thankful, but suffice it to say that life, living, being, doing, sharing and having the means to do so is the sum total of Thanksgiving.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Thought I’d post this. Not mine but something I remembered about Mr. Common SenseMr. Sense had been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such value lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn’t always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable Parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge).

His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Mr. Sense declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student; but, could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, she spilled a bit in her lap, and was awarded a huge financial settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by two stepbrothers; My Rights and Ima Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

If you still remember him, pass this on; if not, join the majority and do nothing….