This is a week for giving thanks!
So many people see the bad things in life, the struggles and the risks. They always feel like life is not fair to them, or somehow, someway they see only the risks and worries that darken their days.

Some see an election that didn’t go their way and they are inconsolable, instead of realizing that they live in a country that gives them an opportunity to have their voice heard, their vote to count, and to realize that transition of those who “serve” us in government is peaceful.  Furthermore, we have an opportunity to listen to our fellow citizens and understand what and why they see such a need for change.  We are thankful for opportunity to listen.

We may complain about cost of government (taxes), but we should be thankful that we live in the greatest nation of all time, and that naturally comes with a cost.

We may complain about an education system that leaves some under prepared for our work environment, but we should be thankful for the variety and wealth of education available to us if we seek it out.

We may complain that wages are low, but we should be thankful for low unemployment, and wages that still are so much better than almost anywhere in the world.

We may complain about the decline of a middle-class, and we should be concerned for the implications of this social-economic situation, but really think about how nearly everyone can afford quality entertainment systems and instant access to information and communications.  Technology is something to really be thankful for as well as our relative wealth and ubiquity of information and life enjoyment entertainment.

We may complain about decline of social mores, we may complain about the ugly discourse in so many parts of our world, but I think rather we should be thankful that charity spending is up, that people volunteer their time, that so many are really trying to make our world a better place.

Yes we should be thankful this week.  Let’s see the good and wonderful things in our world today and be thankful for the people in our lives that make us better, that help us grow and share our love.  There is plenty of time to see the troubles of our world and to use those times to do something positive about it.  If we didn’t see the problems, then we would never change, and for that too we are thankful!