The Spirit of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is our way to say thank you for our right to live free, practice our Constitutional rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and all the things that reallymatter. That to me is my family, friends and neighbors.

But many people miss the most important meaning of Thanksgiving; which is to offer help to your fellow man and woman in need. 

Reading the headlines of theday, many people are no doubt worried about our economy, jobs, the possibility of more wars, and as a result, some maysay "how can you celebrate such a day with all that is going on around you?" Otherssay that it is just another day for retailers to cash in at the expense of theconsumer. For some it is a day to drink and watch sports.  While others still, may be thinking about all the homeless inAmerica, and how many have lost all that they have, and are just barely makingit day to day. You might even be one of those that have lost itall yourself.

I also think about all those that have lost those dear tothem through any of the above, and how hard it is for them to go through eachholiday without that special person to be with them.

For those of you out there that have or, are experiencingany of the above, my deepest sympathies are with you at this time. I amspeaking from experience that this sad time will pass for you. But you have tokeep going and find meaningful people and things that will help you go throughthis time.

These are just some of the things that run through my mindat Thanksgiving.

What I want to discuss is that looking at all these thingsis all subject to one’s life experiences and, the general mood of thosesurrounding them, which gives them their perspectives.  Sometimes we are blinded by these things towhat really matters.

But let’s face the facts. Since the beginning of time wehave had wars, pestilence and evil in the world. We have had poor and needy. Wehave had those that would turn a profit on us no matter which direction weturn. It sometimes seems so unfair, but that is life.

I see Thanksgiving as a time that we are supposed to putaside our differences. We are supposed to work together to help one another. Isee it as one single day of the year that we are to gather as a nation, withthose that we hold dear, to be grateful for what we do have, not what we don’thave. To reach out to the less fortunate, and help them in any way that we can,in their time of need.

I try to think of the good things I can do to make up forall of the bad. It is not from guilt, it’s because I want to make that day aspecial day for all those that I can help. Sometimes all it takes is a kindword.

What I can tell you isif you want to turn the tide of negative things around you, you need to dopositive things to counteract all that negativity.

The thing that I find most important about Thanksgiving inmy house is that is doesn't cost me anything but time, and sharing mygratefulness for the love of my God, family, friends, and neighbors.

Remember that it’s called Thanksgiving. A thanks for givingis the clue in that term.

I wish everyday were Thanksgiving. I think it would makethis world a much better place for all of us to live if we gave the things thatare most important to others that truly need and deserve them, for noother reason than because it’s the right thing to do, with no strings attached.

I can only hope that you and your loved ones have a greatThanksgiving this year.

Happy Thanksgiving

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