Happy Thanksgiving! (PQW 11/24/10)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! In our family on Thanksgiving Day, we all sit down, starving, staring at all that delicious food and go around the table mentioning at least one thing of which we are thankful. We each take our turn, with our mouths watering, to come up with something different than everyone else. God’s grace, family and recent blessings are all mentioned. Last year, my son of almost 2, was the last one to have a turn. We asked “What are you thankful for?” and he grinned and said “Rolls!!” So we gave him one! 

This time of year always brings a time of reflection of all the things we have and where we are in life. For the most part, this country is quite blessed. Though the economic times have made us all scale back a bit, we still live in a land of excess. Most of us can probably never remember a time when we didn’t have enough to eat. Most of us wish we didn’t eat quite so much! 

We may not have seen it, but many people in this area don’t have the means to fill their plates, or the plates of their children. Many of these people are hard working individuals that just can’t make their ends meet. My son is a growing boy and is always hungry. I couldn’t imagine how awful it would be if I couldn’t meet that most basic of needs.

As you look around and count your blessings this time of year, this is your friendly reminder to please remember the local charities. They work almost entirely on donations. So help out that chilly Santa Claus with the bell by Woodard’s this year. Contribute to the food box at your local church. So many ways to spread good cheer to other people in our community this year. 

I’ll do you one better. I’ll challenge you to help others throughout next year! Many of these charities suffer in the early months of the year because donations die off. Usually, if you are like me, you jump into the new year with “me-focused goals” like losing those holiday pounds or organizing that junk closet, finally. Let’s decide right now together to do all of those things as well as try to keep our eyes and ears open for the needs of others.  We all get by with a little help from our friends!