FOR WHAT AM I GRATEFUL?

By Ruth A. Sheets

Thanksgiving is less than 2 days from now.  It comes every year, but as I grow older, I find myself contemplating Thanksgiving’s meaning for our nation (that has made Thanksgiving a national holiday), and for me. 

It is hard to get a sense of what our nation is grateful for because there are so many different understandings of what is worthy of gratitude.  Here are a few I think with which most would agree.

• We have made it nearly 250 years from the time we declared our Independence from Britain and despite some flaws and moves in the direction of authoritarianism, we are still here.
• Our nation is strong and can defend itself from any foreign invaders.  We are not so sure, though about domestic ones.
• Social Security is still available to those who have earned it as is Medicare, although there are efforts to subvert both and hand them over to private entities, not the intent of those who founded them.
• Freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and to petition for redress of grievances are still mostly honored, even though some in power or who want to be in power are working hard to trample those First Amendment rights for everyone, except for themselves, of course.  
• We have the right to vote, although some are trying to deny the vote to all but rich white men.  Not happening!
• Most of us have clean drinking water, safe food, and some kind of shelter, although the government agencies that supervise those things are being gutted to benefit rich corporations.

You get the idea.  We are grateful for many things, but jumping in to stifle that gratitude are forces that want that gratitude turned toward themselves, the ones who will render those “blessings” if we comply and do whatever they tell us to do.  Americans don’t seem to want that.  Many participate in protests and push for legal interventions on behalf of the American people.

What we individuals are grateful for is quite a different set of items because each of us lives life in a much narrower setting, more specific to ourselves.  I suspect though, that We the People share many of those points of thanksgiving.

• I am grateful for an incredible family that has lots of challenges, even flaws, but individually and collectively we have tried to make the world a better place, even if only in small ways.  I have musical sisters and other family members who share their music with audiences where they live, for churches, for historical events, at school, or just for fun at home.  Every member works over and above whatever is required on the job, respects co-workers, and values skill and competence.  Remarkable right? 
• I am grateful I have held so many different jobs in my life, most of them interesting and where I could be creative even within the bounds of the job’s requirements, with friends to share the work.
• I am about to complete 30 years living in my apartment complex, more than half the time the complex has been in existence, and I have no plans to move.
• I am able to contribute financially to organizations I value and to family members and others in need now, something I couldn’t do when I was younger.
• I have remarkable sisters who will help me to get where I need to go and only complain on occasion, when they should complain every time (it can be boring).
• I love to read and appreciate that I have people I can share those books with.   
• I have friends who have been part of my life for decades, special folks who have helped me to become who I am.

So you see, I have a lot to be grateful for as part of our nation and individually.  I hope you will find a time to consider the gratitudes in your life too.  It’s a great balm for the day’s news.