My family and I were very fortunate this year to spend Thanksgiving with the clergy of our church and their family and friends. It was nice to get to enjoy the meal, be around kind, caring people, and not clean dishes. :)
I'm actually thankful for something quite sad that happened to us recently. We've been attending our church for almost exactly a year now and in that time we've come to love many of the people in the congregation. I've learned a lot from one man in particular, the head usher that attended the mass we go to every Sunday. In this short time span he was more unconditionally loving than anyone I've met on this Earth. This past month he passed away and the hole that he left in so many people's lives is astounding. I didn't truly understand unconditional love until he passed. And while our hearts still ache with missing him, I'm thankful for this gift he has given us.
Another amazing life lesson I learned recently has me counting my blessings. I heard the childhood story of a girl my family knows that was adopted from China. She was adopted when she was only 5 1/2, and the horrible things she endured until that time really put my childhood into perspective. My childhood "abuse" was luxurious in comparison. I was lucky with the emotional abuse I suffered from my parents. And I hope I keep that perspective. While I felt I had been in a life threatening situation, I survived and walked away with a knowledge that common people don't have, recognizing evil.
Most Americans seem to be re-evaluating the priorities in their life as the economy continues to effect more people and families. Tom Mannis, The Homeless Patriot, has managed to keep food in his stomach and a roof over his head. And even more amazing yet, he volunteered his time this Thanksgiving return his thanks to his local VFW. Please read the story here and here.
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