Thanksgiving Thoughts

Dr. Wendy Ghiora–Posting #113–November 20, 2012

Many families will be gathering together this Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving. Some of these families have the tradition of asking each family member to share what they are thankful for this year. It’s so easy to forget things (at least for me it is), so I thought if I wrote some of them down it might help.

I am extremely thankful for the brave pilgrims that left their homeland seeking the right to worship God in the way they wanted to, not in the way they were being forced to.  This sacrifice has led to the haven of religious freedom we proudly call America.

I am thankful to live in a community of caring people; people who devote hours, selflessly volunteering to help those in need, either through actions or financial gifts. Many retailers have food drives, blanket drives and coat drives for the underprivileged. Free turkey dinners are provided to make sure the homeless have a place to eat and celebrate on this day.

I am thankful for the teachers and childcare providers who keep our children safe each day, working to help them learn the wonders of our world and the practical skills that will make them good citizens. It is in these educational settings our children learn of the many freedoms they are privileged to call their own, because our forefathers had the insight to understand their preeminent value.

On a personal level, I am thankful for my husband; for his support, caring, insight, humor and his unconditional love.  I am thankful for my children, grandchildren, my husband’s children and grandchildren and my friends who live in every corner of this great country. They all add new and delightful meaning to my life every day.

I thank my great-grandparents who had the courage to move here when they did.  It is because of them I can live this life and do and have pretty much anything I want to.

I thank God for His love and guidance and for giving me so much to be thankful for!

I know I’ve forgotten a lot, but hey, you’ve got to start somewhere.

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving!

Wendy