Be thankful for blessings

There is something about being human that compels us to stop and give thanks for the blessings we have received. Most cultures all over the world have some sort of ritual for this. Although Thanksgiving, as we know it, is an American holiday, the need to give thanks is almost universal. I say almost because I’m sure there are curmudgeons out there who don’t follow this practice along with the unfortunate who have suffered more cruelty and tragedy than they deserve.
For most of us, Thanksgiving is a time to stop and say, “Thank you.” In the midst of all the cooking, cleaning and reconnecting with family, there will be a brief moment of quiet when we recognize how fortunate we really are.
I am glad I live during the time when chickens, turkeys, ham and beef can be found at the store, neatly wrapped and waiting to jump into my cart. I have never plucked a chicken or other fowl, and I intend to keep it that way. I remember my mom plucking chickens and how hot and bedraggled she looked. I know some people enjoy hunting and killing animals, but I don’t. I will gladly pay others to do that for me.
I am thankful for indoor plumbing. When my mom and stepfather, Harvey, were first married they had an outhouse. It was a nasty place, and I always felt sorry for Harvey when he cleaned it out. These days a quick swish of bowl cleaner and the job is done. Not to mention that it is far less problematic when one has to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
I am thankful for central heat. We had a fuel oil stove when I was a little girl. The only warm place in the house was within a foot or two of the stove. Then when we moved to the little house, Mom and Harvey had a coal stove. It heated the house so that it was hotter than Death Valley in August but keeping it stoked and the clinkers cleaned out was a chore. My little brother, Michael, used to fuel the stove with his plastic cars.
I am thankful for confusing technology that allows me to see pictures of my grandchildren within minutes of their having been taken. That same technology shows me cute sayings, such as four-year-old Jacob’s recent inquiry as to whether gorillas had tails or bottoms. It also shows me that I should be grateful that I don’t live near a former classmate in the state of Washington where it was a balmy nine degrees this morning.
I am extremely thankful for the telephone, if not for the telephone bill. That instrument connects me with people in ways nothing else can. I can catch up on current family developments, arrange for various doctor visits, receive good news and do so many other things. I would be lost without it. I am not that thankful for Rachel from cardholder services or for the other calls wanting me to donate money or purchase a product I don’t want. Sorry Rachel.
I am thankful for my health. Various members of my extended family are battling with health issues. Some have the potential to be very serious, some, not so much. My own health is good, so far, and for that I am very thankful for I know how quickly that can change.
I am thankful for my family. They are each precious, each unique. They are all sources of endless pride and joy.
Lastly, I am thankful for the memory of two-year-old Nicholas saying grace. He was very sincere and a bit long-winded. The only words anyone could understand were, “God” and “amen.” The other children said he didn’t do it right, but we thought he did a fine job.
There are many things to be thankful for in every life. The sun comes up every morning, even if it is sometimes obscured by clouds. We all have each other. For that, and so much more, I am thankful.[[In-content Ad]]