Be thankful for each day (11/21/07)

When you think about it, shouldn't every day be Thanksgiving?

Sure, there's plenty to worry about in the world.

The list is nearly endless: Wars, famines, diseases, poverty, strife.

And there's no question that enormous problems face us not only as individuals but as families, as communities, and as a nation.

Whether it's funding Social Security or global warming or the coarsening of our culture, there are plenty of topics that can send even the most optimistic of optimists into a funk.

But being thankful isn't about optimism.

It's about gratitude. It's about appreciation.

And it's about valuing those things we too often fail to value properly.

The sun came up this morning. Be thankful.

You heard a child laugh. Be thankful.

The wind blew or a bird sang or a flower bloomed. Be thankful.

Take a few minutes tomorrow to slow down and take it all in. Count your blessings, not literally to see how many you can tote up, but figuratively, becoming aware of each one and pausing for a moment to be thankful.

In a better world, perhaps, we'd do that every day and every day really would be Thanksgiving.

But for now, let's all pause for a day of giving thanks on Thursday. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]