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Gratitude abounds this Thanksgiving
By Patti Pfeiffer, Life's a Trip
It's become a tradition. I look forward to writing this specific column each year. Penning a thank-filled piece makes me warm and fuzzy.
Because the newspaper is operating under holiday deadlines, this will more than likely appear after Thanksgiving. However, I don't think it's ever too late to share sentiments such as the ones below. When friends were asked what they are most grateful for this holiday season their answers varied. Some made me grin. One made me groan. Others made me think. Yet, I was thankful for them all.
Lee Ostermann from Tarrant County wrote, "I am grateful for a secure job with benefits, a healthy and fantastic family, wonderful friends, great music, the gift of sight, a second term for President Obama, a computer that works, a comfortable bed with flannel sheets on a cold night, and foreign movies on Netflix. Small pleasures are best."
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| Patti Pfeiffer / Photo by Terri Pearce |
Mary Ann Bryant says, "Sounds counter-intuitive, but first thing that came to my mind at 82 is that I am thankful for lots and lots of pills! Truly. My world might be vastly different without them; so thank you modern medicine."
And Amy Gilliland states, "I am thankful for a loving family and a truly wonderful husband! I am thankful that people believed in me over the years and encouraged me when I was a complete mess. I am thankful that I ran a marathon and learned that I can do anything I dream I can do. I am thankful for butterfly kisses from my two-year-old and text messages from my 20-year-old saying simply 'I love you!' I am thankful for carrot juice."
A self-proclaimed redneck, Tom Thompson wrote, "I am thankful for the resiliency of the American people and the fact that, while we are apparently no longer expecting anyone to contribute to their own well-being, there are still those of us who understand, accept, and relish personal accountability."
Sharing her gratefulness from Frisco is Barbara Spencer, "It's so difficult to think of what I am most thankful for, since I am thankful for so much. Therefore, I would have to say that I am thankful that I have so much to be thankful for. As always I am thankful for the grace of God and His mercy. One thing I am always especially thankful for is my grandchildren and the opportunity afforded by them to see life once again through the eyes of a child as I remember the little prayers they have offered up. My oldest grandson once said 'Please bless the rich God cause every one forgets them and just says 'Bless the Poor.' We all enjoyed that, but it's true: the rich need God's blessing too. All people do, but maybe only a child could see that we were leaving out someone in our prayers. And maybe he knew that blessing does not mean material goods, but blessings only God can bestow. He is grown up now, and my next to oldest grandchild recently said in his prayer, 'Thank you for this good meal, and for those who would like to have it and don't have it please give it to them.' Again, a smile at his sweet, sincere words (and a bit of wondering if he actually didn't like my cooking and just wanted God to take it away) but I know better by the way he always wants seconds of everything. He taught me that God knows what we mean and what's in our hearts no matter how we say it. My granddaughter, who is youngest, has a lot of wisdom. She often closes with, 'God, I hope I didn't forget anyone so please Bless everyone, everywhere!' She taught me the bigness of God because she knows he knows everyone everywhere."
On a personal note, I'm thankful for the opportunity to share my gift of writing in such a public format. I'm grateful for readers such as Walt, Dennis, Gloria, Don and all others who read my columns. I'm appreciative of my managing editor as I know he has choices. And I'm thankful for the overworked and underpaid newsroom staff all who work endless hours with little recognition or appreciation to produce quality newspapers.
Patti Pfeiffer is a Star Local News columnist, freelance writer and author. She may be contacted at pattip913@msn.com
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