We here in America are just finishing up one of the big holiday’s, Thanksgiving.  A celebration filled with an abundance of turkey, yams, cranberries and mashed potatoes, along with lots of vegetables and plenty of stuffing.  All of this is then washed down by some with Champaign or wine, while others will devour eggnog before finishing the feast off with lots of apple, pecan and pumpkin pie.

Of course, here in America many will spend much of the holiday traveling to see family or friends, or maybe walking among the crazy’s trying to get bargains on that special American holiday called Black Friday.

Many will remember sitting around the family dinner table waiting to let the forks fly into the feast in front of us, only to have the head of the table give that thoughtful request that each person at the table was needing to share what they are thankful for.

Most folks will politely give a single item they may feel thankful for, with several normally saying – the feast in front of me, of course!

I suggest that we should each, not only on Thanksgiving but in every day of our lives, take time to not just remember one thing or person that we may be thankful for – but offer up a minimum of five things or persons we can heartfully say we are thankful for.

With a brief description as to why, here would be the five I could easily offer up for today.

One – My wife and family.  My wife, Linda, is not only my best friend, but she keeps me in check and focused on the important items in my life.  My family involves five adult children, two in-laws and nine grandkids – all of whom can make my life smile and my heart ping.

Two – Doctors and pharmacists.  Since my massive heart attack five years ago, followed with a diagnosis of late Stage-3 COPD, the medical folks have held an important role in my life.  From my home physician, Dr. Thomas, to my pulmonologist (Dr. Berquist), to my cardiologist (Dr. Bajaj) and my pharmacist (Mr. Arthaud) – my life runs better when they all help keep me checked up and pointed in the proper direction of how I live, eat and exercise!

Three – Nature, you know – the trees, grasses, sky, clouds, flowers, bugs, and on and on I could go.  While I have always been thankful for all that nature offers around me, I know my appreciation for all of it and how it all works together for us all to survive, has become more in focus after spending a few minutes in the doorway of death.

Four – Food and all that it pertains to.  While I do not eat many things, what I do eat and those foods I have learned to enjoy later in life – I have found a wonderful love for what I eat and how it may affect my health and well-being.  Very thankful for the ability to spend time cooking in the kitchen.

Five – My faith in whatever lies ahead and has some control over all that we have and see.  My faith goes along with the hope that once my days are over on this beautiful place we call earth, that there is something even more exciting and wonderful in the world beyond my last breath of what I call my life as a human formed being.

Being fully aware of the fact that not every day will give us five items that we may clearly say ‘thanks’ for, I would fully expect that everyone should be able to come up with at least three at a minimum.

Another thing about beginning your day with a list of what you are thankful for – it makes the rest of the day seem just a bit easier to walk through, at least it does for me.  So I say, don’t wait for that yearly feast we call Thanksgiving to give thanks and feel good – but begin each and every day with that list and reminder of three to five things or people that we can with a full heart say ‘Thanks’!

There you have it, another yapping by ‘Grumpy Gramps’.  If you want more from ‘Grumpy Gramps’ then check out the Facebook page of CrossDove Writer.

And for those who may be wondering where ‘Grumpy Gramps’ comes from, well ‘Grumpy Gramps’ comes from those moments when I spew out thoughts and opinions I have developed from being around the walk of life for a while and think someone needs to hear or read them.  When those moments come out a little less than calm and collected, it is those moments when the grandkids seem to cringe, laugh and say, ‘being grumpy, gramps’!!

Until next time – prayers, blessings & happy thoughts – ‘Grumpy Gramps’.

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