My friend, Gary, started off our early morning coffee time together today with a simple prayer of thanksgiving. Later on, we returned to it after covering all sorts of things going on, including both joys and challenges.

Has this annual celebration merely turned into “Turkey Day?” While feasting and gathering with family and friends can be truly wonderful (for others it can be truly painful, unfortunately), do we easily give up any deeper meaning?

When Diane and I host such a gathering at our home tomorrow, we will ask each of the dozen or so people to share one thing that sticks out for which they are most thankful. To me, this does two things. It will both ground us in the reality that we are surrounded by goodness while also providing each of us a window into the lives of one another. Neither of these things should be marginalized.

This morning, Gary said he was so thankful that he has fresh water to drink, access to food and a working sewage system, to electricity. He chose not to take those things for granted.

He also spends time each week in prison and, yesterday, some of the prisoners were thankful that they had food, a place to sleep and Jesus.

Kind of makes us want to pause.

I am so thankful for Diane that I don’t have words adequate enough to describe it.

I am so thankful of our dear sons, Ross and Lee, who have grown into fine young men. They have caring hearts and they know love.

I am so thankful for other family, with whom I share so much, including laughter and tears.

I am so thankful for my many friends who are too numerous to list. With them, too, I share a life that is full and without whom, I would not be the man I am.

I am thankful that I am given purpose and meaning, the absence of which would be terrible. I am thankful that those things lead me in directions that would have largely been unimaginable not that long ago.

I am thankful for love, grace, and hope.

I am thankful that God is actually real and that the Gospel is God’s gift to me and to all of us.

I am so thankful for our house and the means that enable us to live a life without privation, at least for now.

I am very thankful for the majority of my time now when I am not suffering physically. I am thankful when my lungs allow full breaths and, also, thankful that there are medicines and medical professionals to help hold the bad stuff at bay. I am extremely aware that several of my dear friends suffer horribly. I am thankful that they would see me as a dear friend.

I am thankful for quiet moments when the clutter is shed and wonders emerge.

I think I could go on for hours this way.

I am thankful for fresh water, food, plumbing, and electricity.

God bless.