Giving Thanks

Those who are not grateful soon begin to complain of everything.

Thomas Merton

People sometimes ask how I decide what I will write about in my weekly posts. It depends on the day. It can be something I’ve already written or in this case, inspired by a morning walk.

This is a photo of my walk to our neighborhood shopping area. It was taken early in the fall while the leaves still clung to the trees. Walk down a block, turn left through a little park, called the Parade Grounds, and you will arrive at the Town Center. Why Parade Grounds? The name refers back to when this area was an army air base.

I was making a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up a few last minute things for Thanksgiving dinner. As a walked, I met a neighbor, who when she heard I was going to the grocery store, warned me it would be a zoo with lots of long lines and missing items. Taking this under consideration, I wished her a happy Thanksgiving and I continued on my way. Next I came across a man walking his dog. He stopped to wish me a happy Thanksgiving. I commented on the beautiful morning. It was a sunny and warm with a clear, sparkling , blue sky. “Yes, yes it is a nice day, but do you know we were supposed to have snow on Friday?” he replied. Well, yes I had heard that. Although, I wasn’t too concerned at the moment. This was only Tuesday and the weather could change before the end of the week.

I arrived at the store and it was moderately busy, They were out of a blend of coffee I was shopping for. I picked up another we hadn’t tried, thinking we might decide we liked it. I found a few other things I had come for and on my way home, smiled when I thought of the ominous weather report for later in the week. How many times had I been guilty of the same “doom and gloom” predictions I had encountered from my neighbors? When we our not living in a state of gratefulness it’s easy to find fault in what is around us.

This morning, as I slowly got out of my chair after breakfast, my body still stiff from a night of sleep, I thought of all the years I took my body’s agility for granted. I don’t think it ever occurred to me to be grateful. As I become older, I am more aware of the blessings I had counted on without much thought in the past. One of the advantages of age is perspective.

I hope you will have a happy Thanksgiving and, maybe, take a moment, along with me, to be grateful for the things we take for granted everyday.