Those many years ago the first Thanksgiving was shared between the Indians and the Pilgrims.    The Pilgrims had lived through very hard times.    Some barely had any food.   Many died from illness.   They lived in homes that were rustic.   The Indians provided guidance and showed them how to grow things in the environment.     That was a reason to be full of pride and thanks.    It was not the end of the road celebration but a beginning.   The beginning of the next chapter.

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving.    We are thankful for what we have.   We are thankful that we have a future to look forward too.    Thanksgiving is not measured by the amount of money we have or the amount of things we have.   It is not measured by the number of friends nor the number of family.   Thanksgiving is measured by what we have recieved from others and what we give back to others.

Many have lost jobs, homes, and family members over the past year.    Many are separated from the ones they love the most.     We need to be thankful for the time have spent with those people.    We need to be thankful that we have the opportunity to have new relationship and have new impacts on others.  We need to be thankful we have a place to stay and have the opportunity to move into something better.

Being thankful does not mean we have to be happy.    You may not be happy that you lost your home, or your job.   I would like to say there is a bright side to everything.   Time gives us a different look at things that happened in the past.     I’m sure there was a Pilgrim that probably hated corn but was thankful to have something to eat.

Be proud for where you are.  Be thankful that you have an opportunity to change something in the future.    At times it might seem all is lost.   At times it might feel like the weight of the world is on you.   But be thankful you have those times, because at some point in time, you won’t.     So for today be thankful and be proud you made it this far.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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