What I'm Thankful for on Thanksgiving

This isn't going to be a political post per se.  But, enough here to qualify, I believe.  This post is the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving.  We, as a nation, have a great deal for which we can be thankful.  We have a lot wrong with this country today.  There are so many things that I see that I think the Founding Fathers must be twirling in their graves over.  We have a President that pays lip service to our most treasured document, the U.S. Constitution.  He shows his open disdain for anything to do with this nation's history.  Sure, we have our crosses to bear.  Show me one nation on this earth that has not done wrong in their history.  There are no pure and pristine countries no more than there are pure and pristine national leaders.  Enough of this, let me tell you what I'm thankful for on this Thanksgiving.

I am thankful that we have a nation in which the idea of freedom is sacred and something we are willing to fight for in any circumstance.  There are a lot of people who hate the USA.  A lot of people who live in this country and take advantage of all the benefits of this country, hate the USA.  But, that is ok.  As long as their dissent doesn't interfere with my belief in this country, then they have that right.  I am thankful we still have young men and women who believe in this country.  Those same young men and women have sacrificed their lives, limbs and goals to defend our country.  Unlike when I was in Vietnam, they are not spit upon and called baby killers.  They are paid respect.  Respect is something you have to earn.  Our troops have certainly done that.  I am thankful for the food that God allows me to partake on Thanksgiving Day.  So many people do no know where their next meal is coming from.  That is something I have only experienced once in my life.  It is not something I would want to experience again.  I am thankful for the roof I have over my head.  I thank God for the car that I drive every day.  I am thankful for having money in the bank, family that love me and, believe it or not, I am thankful for that which I have not been blessed with thus far.  There are always reasons why things take place and do not take place.  That is my considered opinion now.

I find myself thanking God I do not have to experience the war and famine in Africa, that I was not born into such a miserable life.  I pray that those poor people find peace and tranquility at some point in life.  I am thankful I had a loving and blessed mother who loved me and my siblings.  I hate to think where I would be in life if not for her steady direction.  I guess I should also be thankful for my father, although he was a father in name only.  I'm not sure why I am saying I am thankful for him today.  But, I just feel it is the right thing to do.  As you prepare for your Thanksgiving meal, think about all that you have to be thankful for as you look across the table.  There are many people around the world, and in this nation, who do not have a great deal to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  In some way, we are all blessed.  Some are blessed in different ways.  We all need to take stock of where we are in life today.  Happy Thanksgiving Day to everyone.