Today I am thankful

Happy Thanksgiving. I have a very long list of all that I am thankful for. This is just a part of it.

At the top of the list is my wife. She is everything to me. She gives me a life and love. She is my companion on this journey and being with her makes everything better.

Then there is my family. Our two great kids who are both good, smart, kind and a never ending source of joy. Then my siblings, which includes my brother with his huge heart and sister, who continues to become more extraordinary every day. Then my parents. My father, who is always teaching by his example and my deceased mother, the most amazing woman ever, who is still with me all of the time. My family also includes my mother and father-in-law whose support of and for us is endless. I can’t imagine our lives without them. That is my immediate family and I am thankful for each one of them.

Then there are my friends and what a wild and crazy bunch they are. Their commitment to us is constant, as is their companionship. There is not enough time to spend with all of them. But there is more fun, entertainment, support, encouragement and love than I ever could have hoped for.

Then there are my abilities which I do not take for granted.

I used to jog everyday. Now I can walk just a little and am very grateful for that ability and all of my abilities which are many. I can see, hear and listen. I can feel and care. I can think and reason. I can speak and communicate. I can make choices about my life everyday, wake up happy and grateful, make each day good for me and others, make a difference to someone or something or not.

These are some of the things I can do everyday and for all of them, I am grateful…..and thankful.

Our world is filled with millions of people who are struggling, starving, at war, abused, lost their jobs, homes, faith or hope. I do feel for all of them and yet, am thankful that I am not among them.

Today is Thanksgiving and today there is much that I am thankful for. I hope that you are feeling very thankful today too.

Participate. Make a difference. Live a life that matters.