Giving Thanks

This short monthly post is meant to be a postscript to a longer essay I wrote nine years ago, which focuses on two “big picture” aspects of Thanksgiving. I just re-read it, and I don’t think I’d change a word.

Please take a minute to read the earlier post, Why Thanksgiving?, and then come back.

Within the framework of that larger perspective, in November, 2024, I now want to be specific about several people and events for which I am particularly thankful.

1. Although our large family has some long-standing, serious political and other differences, we held together through the last sometimes difficult twelve months. We all still love each other and are speaking on relevant, timely topics without rancor. Having two separate family text threads for Family Matters and for Politics certainly helps.
2. There are no major election challenges. The results are not in dispute.
3. There’s a real chance that our nation will be less-woke, less DEI focused, and more merit and character based in our personal focus and evaluations.
4. My brother survived a full cardiac arrest and is slowly recovering. And our family is in reasonably good health, though some personal parts are definitely beginning to wear out.
5. My 1965 high school class meets monthly for lunch, speakers and fellowship. Good people. It’s hard to misjudge someone you’ve known for sixty-five years or more. If you have a group from your youth like that, support it and encourage the others. It’s important.
6. My wife apparently still loves me after 48 years. And Lucy our Black Lab is smart, friendly and fun. It took my wife 48 years to train me, but only 3 months to train Lucy. Who’s the slow learner?
7. I gave up and turned over a few errant business deals to the Lord, realizing that the more I tried to fix them, the worse they became. Some are better, some are not. But I’m free from the worry and the responsibility. As is true of all things, they’re His.
8. In the attic I found a manuscript I’d written in 1968 about the Georgia Challenge Delegation to the DNC in Chicago. After re-reading it I reconnected with several friends from those days, and published the book. It’s a footnote to history, but it’s out there if anyone is interested in how two young guys helped others accomplish quite a bit, mainly because we didn’t know that we couldn’t.
9. It looks like Common Sense did, in fact, win this month’s election. Secure borders. Smaller government. Men are not women. Maybe even reduced spending and falling debt! Hopefully a real transformational shift. We’ll see.
10. I am taught and encouraged by two great weekly Men’s Bible Studies. Steve Peterson mostly does the Tuesday study at The Hub at Church of the Apostles. And Ken Boa continues many decades of incredible teaching on Wednesdays. Both start at 7am EST, and both are available online, if you might be interested: The Hub is found here: Men’s Ministry – The Church of The Apostles | Atlanta, Georgia. And Ken Boa is on Zoom each Wednesday at this link: https://bit.ly/4g4Us1x.  Password: Ken Boa

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to write down your specific reasons for Giving Thanks this year, and share them with others when approprtiate. Then have a wonderful time with your family and friends.