Give Thanks!



















 I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving Day with family and friends. For those who had to be away from home or without family members, I hope that you can find some comfort in your memories and pray that your future memories will be pleasant. My son Brian is visiting right now, for which I am most grateful. I miss having all the kids sitting around the table like it used to be. I'm very fortunate that my daughter and granddaughter live here in Hoonah and we're able to see them fairly often, but I do wish that I could afford once a year to pay for everyone to come together for a Thanksgiving feast.  Since that isn't possible, we have to settle for phone calls and Face book I guess.
  A few weeks ago my good friend, Buffalo Bob Holden called. We first became friends when we were both living on the farm at Game Creek. Periodically one of us will call the other to catch up on our lives and compare books we've read. I'm reading a book right now that he had suggested. It's called Breakfast at Sally's, about a man who had been a very successful businessman who was in the publishing business, but when the Internet started and e-books and what not he lost it all and ended up homeless and sleeping in the back of a van with his little dog. He spent his days wandering about, speaking with other homeless people, eating at the Salvation Army (Sally's) and parking his van in a church parking lot. I've never given a lot of thought to the homeless. I suppose, like many, I just assumed that they were all lazy or druggies or drunks. I'm coming to find out that it's not the case. Some folks have suffered a loss of a job and as a result their home; some young people are escaping an abusive home life, some have mental issues. There are indeed some of them who seem to be consumed with getting the next drug fix or bottle of booze, but sometimes, that's more of a result of desperation. Without a home address, many businesses won't hire someone. They can't receive their social security benefits and things like hygiene are a constant struggle. No business wants a person who stinks to come in and use their restrooms. I don't really know what the answer is. It's a complex problem, but I've come to realize that, but for the  grace of God there go I. Many people are just one pay check away from losing their home. I hadn't really meant to write about this, but I guess I did anyway. The thing is, if you're in a place where you can read this, hopefully you're warm and well fed and your health is good, let's give God thanks. It's not a once a year thing to do. It's multiple times a day as we enjoy the sunshine or family or a good book or a warm piece of Apple pie. There's a hundred million things to be thankful for. The last time I spoke to Buffalo, he told me he had seen a plaque somewhere and it had made such an impression on him that he wrote down the saying. I'm going to pass it on to you now.
 What if you awoke today with only what you thanked God for yesterday?
 Food for thought. I sincerely hope you all have a blessed holiday season. God bless!





Comments

  1. Great blog dad, and thanking God for our many blessings is such an important part of every day. We have so much to be thankful for! I can't wait to see you guys at Christmas! Love you.

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  2. HI Autumn- it's really easy to get all caught up in all the negative things going on in the world and start feeling like everything is out of control.When that happens, it's really hard to remember to thank God for our blessings, but as Pastor Jeff Schreve pointed out in today's weekly encouragement, victory comes after we first praise God and thank Him. It opens the door to blessings. Love you too. Ohhh... could you bring down a suitcase full of money when you come? That would be nice! Love you!

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  3. "Thanks" for the blogs, Tom. So true, and so ignored this time of year. When everyone is running after the Black Friday specials, filling up the cars with junk, and just so drifted from the important. And there are "many" today who are losing jobs for "no reason" of their own. I see it all around me. It hurts. And it is hard to believe some business {having been pressured under the current administration's economy} will resort to the lowest of all business decisions (i.e. cut out the higher paid/more senior employees before to the holidays, just to avoid the holiday pay and Christmas bonuses}. It disgusts me, but it happens, and happens to ones we love. The star of Christmas shone, so that we would all open our eyes, look up, and see the Light. Love your posts as always. Just as you were sorry for posting wandering words, you have my apology also for this rambling (if I might use that word). PS Don't despair in not seeing everyone at Thanksgiving, I got used to that years ago. They are still there, if not in person, in spirit. Wishing you and Jan, the greatest Holidays.
    TDH

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Terry. We all have to pursue our lives, wherever that may take us, but it is so nice when the opportunity to come together happens. As always, I appreciate your comments. Hope you and your family have a blessed holiday season.

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  4. What a great thought, so much of the time we are caught up in what we don't have and forget what we have been given already. I heard recently to start your prayers with thanksgiving...makes me really grateful for all I do have. So much to be thankful for, love you dad. I am so glad Brian if there and was able to surprise you:)
    Liz

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  5. Hi Liz- starting off our prayers with thanksgiving seems to be a common theme right now. It's a good thing to do. Whenever times are good we humans have a tendency to forget about the blessings we have. It's been great having Brian- he's working his buns off doing projects I can't do anymore. Talk about blessings! Love you too Liz. See ya soon.

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