I know a lot of persons are struggling with the economy these days. Shorter hours, work sharing, high unemployment, and dim prospects for finding a new job are twofold - slim and none. Thanksgiving was never a day about giving thanks for stuff, but rather a great day to reflect and count our real blessings. It is a day that we could pause and reflect on what life is really about. We can give thanks for those around us those that have enriched and blessed our lives, and those that are no longer here. I am a firm believer that nothing ever happens in life by chance. There is purpose in everything. There are lessons, and values to be learned each and everyday of our lives from everyone we meet. Some lessons are positive and some are negative. They all have a lesson, and the lesson has the be learned if we are to grow.
I find it is important is never good to lament the "loss of the good old days", but rather it is very important to make the best of each day as it unfolds. Today is the best day of our lives. There will always be new opportunities, new acquaintances, friends that we have not met yet, and new lessons make life all so worthwhile. Let us all give thanks for this day. We are truly blessed!
Think about it. We live in a technologically advanced time and age where there is no excuse to contact a loved one 24-7. We can call them on a cell phone, we can send them an an email, they can see a picture of us on Facebook, they can receive a text message, they can even see us on the Internet on a CAM. We live in an age where medicine has increased life expectancy and prolonged the age we can live to. I am tankful for the times in which we live.
I am also grateful for my friends, family, for illnesses, for loved ones no longer here, for the tough times in life, for growing up poor, for values learned, for my teachers, for mentors, for my beliefs, for role models, for those that sacrificed before me, for the country I live in, for freedoms, for financial losses, and for blessings bestowed. I feel truly blessed and rich when I count my blessings and give thanks!
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Thanks for the great post. We have a lot of things to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving.
Jim, Nice to see you guys celebrating Thanksgiving so eloquently in spite of the tough times many in the US are going through. It takes resolve to be thankful when it's tough to be so. Happy Thanksgiving.
Jim - we DO have so many things to be thankful for. I hope this Thanksgiving was a bright and memorable one for you and your family.
Jim - I agree, we can easily focus on the negative aspects of our lives, but, It's much more defining to focus on the positive.
GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors) Happy Thanksgiving Gita!
R. Greg Osmond Realtor, St. John's, Newfoundland, Real Estate (Sutton Group-Capital Realty Ltd.) Thank you so much Greg. It is because I had incredible parents with great values and they were from your neck of the woods Newfoundland...Carbonear, and Harbour Grace!
Lina Robertson, ozarks-realestate.com, Springfield MO Real Estate For Sale (RE/MAX Solutions) It was great! My son cooked!
Anthony Ebright - FHA and VA Home Loans Santa Rosa, CA (Wells Fargo Home Mortgage - FHA, VA, Jumbo, Conforming Loans) Very true. It is very easy in life to become a victim...but victims never heal or grow. They just resent. We must constantly move forward.
Hi Jim...Have a Great Thanksgiving, and thanks for sharing with us all in Active Rain :O))
Amen I believe we should reflect on our lives and be Thankful for the wounderful place God up us on the planet.
Jim - Of all holidays, I love Thanksgiving the most. For whatever reason, it's always my time to unwind - even if it means only in my own mind. I have lots to be thankful for and not that I just do it on Thanksgiving season, but it kinda puts things into perspective for me. I also enjoy Christmas but Thanksgiving is a time for me to "relax" before the big rush comes in (Christmas).
Hi Jim, enjoyed your post and hope you enjoyed your son's cooking on Thanksgiving! You are right... there is SO MUCH to be thankful for.
Victoria Oak Bay Realtor Fred Carver 250-598-2963 for Victoria Oak Bay Homes (Re/Max Camosun Oak Bay & Surrounding Area Real Estate) Thank you Fred. I love Active Rain! We have a great group of folks here!
Elite Home Sales Team Keller Wms. Realty Amen! We are where we are supposed to be. We need always make hte best of it.
Loreena Yeo - Broker|Realtor(R) of www.Frisco-TX-Homes.com (214) 783-2210 (3:16 team REALTY) Perspective is very important to maintain our serenity. I hope you and your loved ones had a great Thanksgiving. Have a great day!
Susie Blackmon-Maggie Valley Waynesville Horse Person/NC Broker/Realtor (Susie Blackmon LLC) Hey Susie. I hope you and your loved ones had a great Thanksgiving. My son was too good a cook. I did not even have to supervise too much!
Jim, It's all about the people, not the things, including houses that make our lives truly blessed. So true! All the best, Michelle
Jim...
I agree that nothing happens by accident, either good or bad. God's sovereignty rules even to the microscopic perspective of life...Thanks for your Thanksgiving blog...
This year has been a struggle for many around us. I am thankful for having great family and friends and for all the blessings that have been bestowed upon us. We have a young military client in Iraq this year and hope all the troops stay safe.
I like your perspective. It's so important to make time to reflect on life.
Michelle Francis (Tim Francis Realty) You are so right. Material things can come and go. They rust, they break, or become obsolete.
Cherise Selley (Selley Group Real Estate, LLC) You are so right. We are all just pieces of the puzzle in His plan!
Kay Van Kampen, CDPE, Broker, Springfield Missouri Real Estate (RE/MAX Solutions) Kay, you are so right. We need to be grateful for our troops.
Colorado Springs Realty Patricia Beck (Re/Max Real Estate Group, GRI) We all need to step back because while in the midst of all, "We cannot see the forest through the trees.