It's hard to be thankful, but...

(I apologize, this is a longer entry than usual. If you are impatient or in a hurry, I encourage you to move to the end and at least watch the video)

Normally, I write about food and typically, today would be a great day to do just that. But I don't think that today is about food. In my opinion, today is about pausing to open our eyes and recognize all that we can be thankful for.

It's much easier today, and everyday, to think of all that do don't have. (Especially this year) I'd be lying if I tried to tell you that this has been an easy year. 2009 will be known forever for it's financial crisis. Whether you rich or poor you are not immune to it's effects. We also face the ever present decay of our environment, a continuing war with terrorism, disintegration of values and integrity, swine flu, and to top it off, a Democrat led government (for my republican friends). These problems are just the tip of the ice burg. Once we scrape the surface, we find that each of us has our own personal battles that we face each and everyday.

I pause to remind myself that it's much easier to focus on what's wrong with our lives and the world, than it is to think of what's right.

Today, although it's hard, I challenge You and Me to remove the veil and witness first hand all that we are thankful for.

Giving thanks is a choice. We must redirect our wandering minds and stop listening to the lies.

Today, I've made the decision to give thanks, even though it's hard. Here are just a few of the things that I am thankful for:

- I'm thankful for each relationship that I've experienced this year. I've felt so much growth because of the people I've shared fellowship with. My life is good because of the brothers and sisters in it.

- I'm thankful for my family who's been willing to support me. They brought me home this holiday to celebrate with them.

- I'm thankful for turkey, whether industrial or local, and all of the people who have slaved over bringing Tom to each of our tables.

- I thankful for the three car accidents I've experienced in the past two months - I'm alive.

- I'm thankful for my story, though it's full of ups and downs, it's uniquely mine and a gift from the creator whose full of grace, as is yours.

- I'm thankful for awe, wonder and hope.

Here are two stories that make me thankful.

1. What Makes the Taureg Happy? A video about the Taureg of Niger, Africa.



2. The Traffic Signs of God. The goodness of a few New Yorkers.


May You, Me and Everyone in between make the decision to give thanks today (and enjoy good food!)