| The old man didn’t try to stop or hide the tide of tears that streamed down his wrinkled cheeks as he watched the nurses hold down and torture his three-year-old grandson in the name of technological medicine. He knew the needles and tubes and bindings could save his grandson’s life, but he found it hard to resist the urge to scream at the nurses and throw them all from his grandson’s hospital room. The baby’s eyes begged his papa to help him and make them stop hurting him. And knowing that he could do nothing made it all the more heart-rending for the old man.
I watched from the hallway until I could bear no more, then I left with the scene playing over and over in my head. I spent that evening at home still thinking about the sadness of that hospital visit with Thanksgiving just one week away and I wondered at the blessings in my life for which I should be thankful. The following Sunday our preacher focused on Thanksgiving and giving thanks for all the goodness in our lives.
The bible teaches us that it is a sin to focus on our worldly wants and needs to the exclusion of all else. To better our lives we should be grateful for all the good things that make life here on earth so wonderful. If we become too engrossed in our own suffering, all we have to do is think about the tremendous suffering that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, went through to save our souls from everlasting torment. We should give thanks to God for sending someone so good and loving that he lay down his life for us. We should think about the very young and very old throughout the world today that have so little to be thankful for and pray for relief from their afflictions. We should give thanks that we live in a country rich with blessings and a freedom to pray as and when we wish.
Be thankful for our soldiers who are giving so much so that we are able to retain this freedom of which we are so proud. Be thankful for the men and women who gave their lives on 9-11 to help save those in danger.
We should give thanks that our friends and loved ones are happy and healthy and when they aren’t, we should give thanks that there is a God and Savior that will help them, and us, through the most trying of times.
If someone takes something from you, be thankful that you had it to give, for if they were so compelled to take it, then God knows that they needed it much more than you.
Be thankful that you have what you need, not for having what you want. ‘Things’ are only as important as you make them and in the bigger picture you’ll find they aren’t nearly as important as only the things you can take with you in the end.
Be happy and be ever thankful this Thanksgiving Day.
Sandra E Graham, author—Amos Jakey—published by American Book Publishing. Visit www.sandragraham-articles-books.com
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