By Coach Dave Daubenmire
November 28, 2024
I am writing this on the day before Thanksgiving 2024. It just so happens that my usually-weekly commentary is being posted on Turkey Day.
I don’t want this to be a cheesy Thanksgiving-is-a-good-thing commentary, but, rather a genuine moment of reflection on how blessed we all are and don’t even realize it. The focus of soooo much of what we discuss deals with the negative…things that are wrong with our lives…that I hope to change your focus a bit. After all it IS THANKSgiving Day.
I’m grateful today.
I’m grateful that I have all my fingers and toes, eyes that work, 1.75 reading glasses at the Dollar Store, a functioning digestive system, and a mouthful of teeth.
I’m grateful for a warm house, a roof that doesn’t leak, trees in my yard, nuts on the trees and squirrels that eat the nuts.
I’m grateful for cars that run, brakes that work, wiper blades, dome lights, and fuzz busters.
I’m thankful for electricity, gasoline, paint remover, step ladders, lightbulbs, air conditioning, heaters, coffee pots, and garbage disposals.
I’m grateful for showers, hot tubs, dishwashers, refrigerators, micro waves, infrared saunas, septic tanks, and toilet paper.
I’m grateful for a big soft bed, the love of my life lying beside me, my special pillow, the ceiling fan above the bed, the gun on the nightstand, and the alarm clock (usually) that awakens me each morning.
I’m grateful for mouthwash, toothpicks, taste buds, tooth brushes, toilets adjacent to the bedroom, and soap.
I’m grateful for wrenches, hammers, vice grips, air compressors, scissors, shovels, rakes, and cuss words…sometimes.
I’m grateful for firewood, air fresheners, paper towels, duct tape, flush toilets, Bic lighters, riding lawn mowers, and porch swings.
I’m grateful for memories, life experiences, love and hate, up and down, right and left, in and out, and right and wrong.
I’m grateful for the changing of the seasons, sunny days, rain when needed, snow in small amounts, sunsets, and those to share them all with.
I’m grateful for tough times, overcoming them, learning from them, and the life lessons that they teach.
I’m grateful for pizza, pepperoni, ice cream, fruit, veggies, beef, cheese, oatmeal, nuts, ice cubes, and fresh water to drink.
I’m grateful for pain and pain relief, for fear and courage, correction and direction, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, upset stomachs and Pepto Bismal, and the burden of fatigue and the gift of relief.
I’m grateful for disagreements and reconciliation, war and peace, good and bad, ugliness and beauty, sowing and reaping, laughter and tears, and the fear and comfort of silence.
I’m grateful for family feuds and family bonds, for things that matter and things that don’t (and understanding the difference), heritage and legacy, duty and honor, thick blood and unwavering loyalty.
I’m grateful that God loves and hates, rewards and punishes, gives justice and mercy. I’m grateful that He saved a wretch like me.
I’m just getting started and I am out of space…you can add some of your own.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Read the whole chapter.
Stop complaining about how bad everything is. A joyful heart is the key to happiness.
Happy Thanksgiving or Grumpy Thanksgiving?? The choice is yours.
Look around! There is sooo much to celebrate!!
May the JOY of the Lord be your strength this Holiday season. I choose wine and roses over pickles and prune juice!
© 2024 Dave Daubenmire – All Rights Reserved
E-Mail Dave Daubenmire: ptsalt@gmail.com
