Football, Turkey and Mince Pie

Well it is here.

The day dreams are made of and waistlines are wasted.

The annual tribute to gluttony and the NFL and mince pies.

A day of Thanks to our Creator for His blessings.

And to families, and to giving thanks for all we have.

And for the blessings of life.

And for those who have gone before us to preserve our freedoms.

And for pausing to remember.

A question our family asks each other on Thanksgiving is "What do you have to be thankful for this year?" It is an important question to ask because it helps us appreciate what we have instead of focusing on what we want.

I know too many people who are unhappy because they do not have something they want and yet should be happy with all that they have. We are a blessed to overwhelming people. There are places in the world where people cannot even imagine all that we have--electronics, food, clean water, a home of our own, a lawn to mow, two cars (or three), education, and freedoms unimagined.

I know I am thankful for my wife, my family (with the broadest interpretation you can use as to who qualifies). Our family is an inclusive family--if you're here, you are family. And to my friends, because God has blessed us with some really awesome friends, who really aren't friends, but are family.

I am thankful for my job--it keeps me busy and happy and gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

And I'm thankful for racquetball which makes me get out and move even when I'd rather be a slug on the sofa.

And I'm thankful for my dog--if someone had asked me last year if I wanted a puppy I would have said no--emphatically! That would have been a mistake. So I'm thankful no one listened.

And I am thankful that I can help people less fortunate than me. That i can make a difference in this world by starting right here in our community.

And I am thankful that I am happy. I am content in where I am--I would rather be diving, but that is a pipe dream.

And I am thankful

I am happy I am not a turkey!

I am happy that I can see a future. that I can plan. That I have a realistic chance to see my planning come to fruition.

And finally--I am thankful for all the things I don't even realize I'm thankful for--like my 4th and 5th grade teacher teaching me to stand in front of a bunch of people and speak without fear.

And so, I've droned on and on, but I'm reminded of the Thanksgiving Hymn

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing. . .