I’m celebrating Thanksgiving 2018 – Texas-style! – at my son and daughter-in-law’s new home in Austin, Texas.  My daughter also flew in to join us, from Guatemala.

Not hosting Thanksgiving in my own home, I don’t have any responsibilities today (I was asked to chop an onion and to run to the store for toothpicks – but that’s light work for a Thanksgiving veteran).  As my wife and son prepare the Thanksgiving feast, I’ve been relegated to a chair in front of the Macey’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Annual National Dog show on TV.  I’m not complaining.  I’m thankful for a relaxing Thanksgiving morning, surrounded by the people I love.

So, as it is Thanksgiving, and I have some extra time on my hands, I’m reflecting on ALL I have to be grateful for.  The problem is, if I attempt to name anything or anyone specifically, I’ll inevitably leave something or someone out, thus potentially diminishing someone else’s Thanksgiving gratitude.  What could be more anti-Thanksgiving than that?

So, if I’m thankful for you, you probably already know it.  If you’re unsure, you have my permission to assume I’m grateful for you, too!  Happy Thanksgiving!

I’ll simply say I’m deeply, profoundly, consciously aware of how extremely fortunate I am, in virtually every aspect of my life.  I’m the beneficiary of many more blessings than I deserve or could ever count!  Even beyond the particular things and people I could name – but won’t! – I simply feel grateful, in an all-encompassing way, for the totality of my life.

I’m blessed, and I know it.  I’m thankful.

Most importantly, in addition to my gratitude for so many people, and to so many people, I know WHO deserves the ultimate thanks.  As we sing in worship, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”  Though I may not always be as consciously aware of my blessings as I am right now, or as intentional about expressing gratitude, in moments like these I can’t help but thank God.  I don’t know why God has been so good to me.  But, I’d be an ungrateful, ignorant fool if I denied it.

So, wherever you are and whomever you are spending this Thanksgiving with; whatever you have to be thankful for and whomever you have to be thankful to; take a moment to count your many blessings, and give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving!