I mentioned the other day how Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. That hasn't changed, it still is. But I want to look at Thanksgiving for what it is, A time set aside for the nation to give thanks for the bounty we produce, for giving thanks for the blessings we receive and showing gratitude to God for all of it.
For much of my life in worship we would sing a song called "Count Your Many Blessings." Here is the first verse.
"When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."
I love this song, because it is a reminder to me of the many, many blessings I have.
Every morning, when I usually have my quiet time, I will frequently count my blessings and give thanks for them, because I feel my life has been one continuous blessing, and I have been blessed far more than I deserve.
Now, if I were to name all of my blessings, it would be a long list and you probably would give up reading it before you reached the end. So this list will be abbreviated. These are the things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving season, 2025
- First and foremost, I am grateful I have a God who loves me, who cares for me and wants me to succeed, who gave his Son to die for me. There is nothing even remotely close to this blessing.
- I am thankful for Marilyn (M). There are no words for me to describe the blessing she is in my life. My best friend, my life partner. She makes me want to be the best person I can be and I look forward to spending eternity with her
- I am so thankful for my mother, for her strength, her example, her character. Mom has had a tough year. She turned 89 last month, and in this calendar year, she has fractured her pelvis, broken her nose, broken a toe, and broken her femur. She has had breast cancer and had COVID. She and my step-father Tom have also moved from their home to an assisted living facility. That is a lot to deal with at any age, yet she has met every challenge. Sure there have been some setbacks, but she has survived each one.
She will spend this Thanksgiving at a residential rehab facility in St. Louis. Not a problem, she is continuing to have an influence on everyone she meets, meeting the workers, hearing their stories. Every day she tells me about a staff member she has met. The girl from Puerto Rico who loves baseball and Yadier Molina. The woman from Bosnia who even though she holds advanced degrees still does service work at the rehab. Just yesterday she told me about one of the maintenance men, who raised his twin daughters after their mother, his wife, died when she was 40. I am so thankful she is still with us.
- I am so thankful for my two sons, Barclay and Clayton, and the joy they bring me. Just so proud of them. I am also thankful for their wives, Sarah and Mimi, two wonderful daughters-in-law.
- I am thankful for those two adorable red-headed grandchildren, Eleanor and Isaac. There are no words.
- I am thankful for my brother Barry, and since he has retired, we talk so much more frequently
- As you can tell, I am so very grateful for my family (mine and M's), near and far. Each is special, and I love them all dearly.
- I am still grateful, as I have been for 60-plus years, for baseball
- I am grateful for my church family at Sherrod Ave. When we moved to the Shoals 11 years ago, I literally knew no one. Sure there are a half-dozen congregations closer to our home, but it is the people, the friendships I have made, the people I love deeply, including our minister Justin Pannell, who I still feel responsible for.
- I am thankful for the women of our small group, Joy Winn, Martha Jenkins, Linda Bogus, Jean Greenhill and Janis Kennedy. What wonderful, wonderful ladies. I would be remiss and in trouble if I did not mention some other of our senior ladies at church who just fill my heart every time I see them. Edra Westmoreland (the best hugs), Margie Isom, Peggy Murphy, Sonia Denton, Judy Odom and others I am sure I am forgetting
- I am thankful for the church on Hilton Head. We get to worship with them five or six times a year, and they always treat us like family. Fred McClure, their minister is a good man and a student of the word. They are a welcoming oasis to the traveler needing a place to worship
- I am thankful for Alabama weather, especially in the winter
- I am thankful M and I travel as much as we do. There is so much to see in this world
- I am thankful for Donnie Daugherty. My brother from another mother. Our friendship started with a weekly breakfast (the best friendships start with food). We have had some similar heartaches, but he has endured much the past couple years. He is resilient, he loves God, and he is an inspiration
- I am so thankful for Ken Springer. Our brains are pretty much set tuned to the same frequency. So many times we've had each other's back. Friends like him are so very rare.
- I am thankful for Jeff Walton. The more I get to know him, the more I appreciate his study and understanding of God's word
- I am so thankful for Allison Blair. In the first nine years we were at Sherrod, Allison and I probably talked three times. Since then, well, more than three times. Our friendship began with a comment about Converse tennis shoes. Since that first discussion we have discovered we share political views, a warped sense of humor, divorce and other things. I call her Momma Smurf. She has been through much but yet overcomes.
- I am grateful for my friendships with Justin McGill, Caleb Danley and Will Young, who have decided I have some wisdom to share. I do pray I don't disappoint them.
- I am grateful for the friends of my youth that I still communicate with. For Bruce Chilton, Sam Bates, Lisa Moon, Sandy Smith, Paige Brown, Daryl Simmons and Linda Richardson. I love all of these kids, all of whom I've known for 60 years
- I am grateful I can walk. Prior to my hip replacement, I was convinced I would never walk unaided again. God didn't just lay his hand on me, he draped his whole body on me.
- I am thankful for you, the readers of this blog. For your comments, even when you disagree.
- Finally, I am grateful for life. I am blessed beyond what I deserve, I have the best wife, everywhere I look I see God's handiwork. Life is very, very good.
Give thanks. Count your blessings, be nice to everyone you meet. See you down the road.
No comments:
Post a Comment