Please remember this is a non political post. If you make comments I have to trash I will put you on the banned list. I’m sorry this comment is necessary and prominent, but it is always needed. Be thankful or pass by this post, please.
I hope that you will bear with me during the first part of my post, as I use this opportunity to remember and be thankful for lots of people who made my year survivable, and not only helped me, but taught me much. I promise it’ll get better shortly.
This year Thanksgiving Day will be different for many of us, and you might even be stumbling over the gratitude, thankful, and happy part. If so, I hope to offer a few thoughts to change your mind.
For my family, and yes, for me as well, this has just been an awful year, the worst of my life so far. I found out this year that I had never really made an acquaintance with suffering, and long term severe pain, and I’ll just tell you straight up that I wish that had continued.
I mention my injury because it does lead to my point. Even in the midst of pain and near despair, I had to recognize that my blessings were many, and many of them came to me directly because of my injury. From moments after I had my fall, I had family to care for me, in ways large and small, three generations of family. I had friends to help as well, and boy, did I need all of them.
I dare say I had more prayers offered up for me than I’ve had my whole life. I had wise and kind people who understood just being there when nothing could be done except to be. Some of them lived far, far away, but they found wonderful ways to just be there when I needed it. At times I needed to be kicked instead of coddled, and my husband, a fine master of the blunt kick appropriately applied was not always around to do it, so there were a few friends with the kindness (I do sincerely mean that) and courage and wisdom to gently offer a nudge.
Speaking of husbands, mine is the best. He kept our lives going, cared for me, even when it humiliated and enraged me at the amount of care I needed, he cooked, shopped, cleaned, made all the rounds of doctor and therapy appointments, and worked a full time job. When he was needed out of town for work he refused to go until I was stable and safe. When it would have been okay and enjoyable for him to go on his Saturday shooting trips, he refused to go until I was safe…and less miserable. From the minutes after I called him following my fall until today, he has been what God made him to be, an unfailing rock.
I told my sons, he exercises those for better or worse vows just as well, just as strongly, just as faithfully and without one complaint in the for worse times as well as the for better times. When God made this man, he stood back and knew this one would stand against all struggles and hard times, that his heart would never falter, nor his step slow. This man will outlast any hard times and struggles. I am not really fit to stand beside him, but I sure am grateful, thankful, and happy that I get to.
My sons and daughters in law were exceptional in being there for me, and in rearranging their schedules and lives to help. My grandchildren even spent days fetching and carrying when I needed someone here with me. Extended family and friends helped in so many ways, from meals, cleaning, rides to doctors’ visits, and shopping for us.
Last but not least, EMTs, doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, techs, physical therapists (my favorite people in the world right now), and all the medical personnel who have helped me survive and have hope of thriving again one day. For the fact that I had the best medical care in the world available at 4 in the morning and continuing through my recovery period. For gifted surgeons, especially, I am thankful. For experienced therapists who almost had to teach me to walk again.
Truly, I have had some of the greatest blessings and kindnesses of my life this year. Dear God, I am sorry that I spent more time complaining to you about my sorrows and pains than thanking you for the blessings you sent my way. I really, really hope I do better in the future.
And that leads me to thoughts about our world, in a general way, and our country specifically, and all that we Americans have faced this year as planet Earth has crazily made its voyage around our sun.
Those of us who are old enough were blessed to really learn about Thanksgiving from parents and teachers. In my childhood, every year we spent hours at school painstakingly making hand turkeys and putting on plays honoring the Pilgrims and Squanto and his fellow Indians who taught the settlers how to survive. We found out that our forefathers and mothers fought the elements, lack of proper knowledge and preparation, supplies, illness, starvation, and death the first winter they arrived in America. We found out how they learned to hunt, fish, but more importantly, plant and harvest, build and plan, prepare and prevail.
We learned those things, but I don’t think even our teachers and parents made us realize how much bitter, backbreaking hard work they endured on top of sickness and loss. We could never have understood what those men, women, and children endured, but we at least were taught to honor and remember it.
We were taught that they did the most important thing of all in the fall of the year after their first harvest. They set aside a day to honor and thank God for bringing them through, for blessing and saving them.
We kids did absolutely understand their thankfulness, and by extension our own. We proudly celebrated the troubles and triumphs of our American forefathers, blessed to begin a new life in this wonderful land of ours, our home, our America. I believe that being taught our Thanksgiving stories laid a foundation for patriotism.
Those first struggles set the American character for the future. Increasing numbers of colonists would step onto rather small wooden ships with poor food and little accommodation to human needs and brave the wild Atlantic storms to find homes in our wilderness, and they had their own fierce battles and struggles, despairs and triumphs.
In time American patriots, who did not yet possess the name Americans, would fight tyranny, rise up, band together in rag tag militias and buy the freedom, in blood, to found the greatest country the world has ever known, the United States of America. A new country born from persecutions, unfair taxation, and no representation. Sounds familiar?
Our young country would continue to grow and prosper in the face of adversity. A government had to be set up, the Constitution formed from passionate ideas and dreams and hopes from passionate men. The Bill of Rights was added. The fledgling country faced the debt incurred during the Revolution, and immediately foreign policy problems had to be dealt with.
As settlers streamed into frontier lands in western New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and other as yet unsettled and un-named states, armed conflicts with Indians became a part of American history.
Later came such challenges as the debate over the Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, and always, the great movement westward toward what Americans named their Manifest Destiny. Texians defined courage and patriotism, sacrifice and indomitable will at the Alamo, burning an unrivaled and epic tale of valor into the history of mankind.
The long years of pre civil war struggle between Free and Slave states, the Abolitionist Movement, the Underground Railroad, Bloody Kansas, finally firing off the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter. The battles, wins and losses for both sides, with so many casualties, and particularly in the South, starvation and death brought to civilians struggling just to survive.
The struggles continued with the aftermath of the war and the assassination of President Lincoln. Reconstruction. Hardship, bitter enemies taking perhaps the long way toward rebuilding a bloodied and torn nation. Still more westward expansion.
Canals dug, railroad lines built, mining strikes, economic crises. Disease, famine, natural disasters. Epic villains, from the Barbary pirates to the Russians and British (again!) in the Northwest to Spain and Mexico in the South and Southwest and California.
Gold rushes and land rushes. Riches discovered, fortunes made, destinies sought and found. From the Bread Basket to the Dust Bowl, with World Wars and Asian conflicts, the Great Depression between wars, Americans kept thriving, eventually even winning the race to put a man on the moon.
From our first moments until this very minute, we Americans have fought the battles that are ours to fight, poured out our blood, sweat, and tears in rivers of sacrifice.
Hundreds of peoples we are, from the Indians of the Americas, the Europeans who crossed oceans, the Asians, Africans through slavery and later those who came seeking a better life, peoples from every continent and probably almost every country, we have formed this great and wonderful land and our people, Americans, encompassing every race, religion, and ethnicity known to mankind.
It was never easy, but it was always worth it.
Don’t you dare give up on us now. The best is yet to come, and if we have to bleed and sweat a little, well, it isn’t anything we haven’t done before. Today say your prayers and thank God for those who came before and pray for the courage to honor them in our time and with our own courage, will, and sacrifice. Liberty is not sold cheaply, ever.
It is Thanksgiving Day and we are a grateful people and a grateful nation. Let us celebrate that, especially today.
Yes, a divorcee can have a turkey dinner in a half hour. Stove top stuffing, Hungry Jack Mashed Potatoes, Heinz Home Style Roasted Turkey Gravy, and deli sliced Turkey. Apple pie from the store latter. Listening to Christmas music.
Lucky girl. In all things give thanks.
I’m a guy. Now my Ex had 4 husbands and 4 divorces. So if you are talking about her, I doubt it. I decided to cut my loses after one divorce.
Married four times! She must be one hell of a girl. However, you do know it’s 3 strikes and you’re out don’t you?
I am thankful for the closures of ministries in the area we live for it has taught us just how much we need each other. I have many other things to list but will not because I think this one is very significant. In this mess we find our nation and indeed world we must discover the lessons that are being taught. For me it is that I need others and others actually do need me. Imagine that.
Thank you Lord Jesus for helping us to see the importance of what was often neglected and at best under appreciated and that is community. Help us to fight tooth and nail if needed to never lose our communities help us all to be of the household of faith. In Jesus precious name, Amen!
Gather God’s people and declare your gathering to be of one household only no matter the size…the household of faith!
O Beauiful for Spacious Skies – Vanessa Williams Special Edition
Skip ahead to seven minutes…
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain;
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea.
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine
Happy ?Turkey Day everyone!!!????
Battle Hymn of the Republic – US Army Choir
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.
While God is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.
The historians know the Pilgrims did NOT dress like Puritans. … But as said, in ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ ~ “This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”
The Puritans did Thank God for all their Blessings.
The Pilgrims thanked God too, but wore Pilgrim style clothing.
William Bradford’s proclamation in part:
“Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the daytime, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.”
William Bradford
Ye Governor of Ye Colony
Menagerie, thank you for such an honest and heartfelt post…Happy Thanksgiving to all..I love you all..you are my refuge….
I’m thankful for 21st century medicine.
I have a new heart valve that was installed last year through a vein in my leg. Two months ago I was released from City of Hope after a bone marrow transplant. I have grounds to hope I’ll live long enough to see an actual cure for my particular brand of cancer.
I’m not looking at having a huge Thanksgiving gathering. And thanks to the Coronapocalypse, I’m not being tempted to join one while I’m rebuilding my immune system.
I’m grateful that so many people have worked so hard at inventing modern medicine, and that so many others have had the sense to get out of the way of the people doing the work. I could wish for more of each, but recognize that it could have been a lot worse.
karl, I echo your specific gratitude.
This yr I have had multiple surgeries and procedures, and have never encountered one incompetent or unprofessional medical person.
I am so grateful to live in these United States today. Had I been in some primitive society or land, I would have been left behind…for my inability to practically contribute.
We are so very, very fortunate!!
Treepers, having trouble logging in, so I will take this opportunity to wish all a Happy Thanksgiving.
Thankful for PDJT, RG, SP, JE and SD; and all the patriots who are working hard to save mankind from the evil doers. “This too shall pass.”
Standing by to move to the “New Conservative Treehouse.”
Happy Thanksgiving Fellow Treepers!!!!!! God bless!
This Thanksgiving seems to be one in which we need to go outside the box and truly count our blessings
I’m thankful for God Almighty, for Jesus Christ, for the blessing of living in America, and last but not least, I’m thankful for President Trump and all the patriotic Americans who still hold honesty, honor, integrity and fairness dear, and fight for the ideal that makes America great
Thank you for this wonderful finish to an American Thanksgiving and may God continue to bless you in so many ways.
Happy Thanksgiving fellow Treepers. May God bless and keep each and everyone of you.
While I previously submitted a post containing a link to the hymn “Let All Things Now Living,” I was tooling ’round the ‘net and came across a unique, delightful version of the same. Enjoy!
Beautiful, thank you.
You’re welcome, I’m sure.
I’m thankful I didn’t drop everything and join the working-from-home crowd earning a jillion a month ’cause, ya know, that’s a scam. Thanks, Sundance. See ya on the other side (i mean that metaphorically, not politically).
Menagerie, I wish I had someone like you in my life.
Your goodness and faith shine through so many times.
Thank you and for what they are worth, I’ll pray your pain melts away into renewed health.
If there is one appliance I never want to live without it is the washing machine. Happy Thanksgiving everyone and God bless those ladies at the washtub!
What an inspiring post. May God be with you as you continue your healing. Yes, we all struggle and have burdens to bear. Mine are insignificant in comparison to all the great patriots who gave so much, and my blessings many.
Happy Day Folks! We are working here in Idaho to help many people in our area and thought you might like to see the Part 1 of our efforts….Part 2 will be posted around Christmastime.
Note: I am not Nate Eaton, but I’m a good friend and helper for him and our Secret Santa…
Meanwhile over 263,000 Americans murdered by the Chinese(and I dare say more than a few American politicians) won’t be sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner.
Yesterday I went to Gulfport to pick up our GGS for Thanksgiving. The I-10 in both directions was jammed and many were out-of-state cars. US-49, major north-south street in Gulfport was jammed and my granddaughter-in-law tells me the casinos and their restaurants are equally jammed. Earlier today the news was saying that TSA screened the largest number of passengers since the pandemic began. Go back to your lily pad in the swamp, Fauci.
There were two parts to the proclamation when Pres Lincoln declared the first Thanksgiving Day during our Civil War. One part was to give thanks, around which we have molded every Thanksgiving since,
The second part seems to have fallen to the wayside – Praise. Praise for Our Lord.
“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me.” Ps 50:23
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above you heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Thank you, Menagerie, for your always timely reminder of just why we are here.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Dear Menagerie,
Thank you for your very inspirational post. Beautiful. Thank you for the thanks you gave to all who helped you through your crisis. Your family is AMAZING. Just as all the people who have worked with you to heal. Physical therapists are the best, but when going through the pain of healing, one does not usually thing of them as Angels.
On the subject of America, ALL of my Grandparents came over on boats, probably in steerage from Slovakia now. Very near to Hungary and the Ukraine. They were in EXTREME poverty for a very long time. On the maternal side of the family two of my family members really did wear flour sacks as clothing when they went to school.
But all became Entrepreneurs. Some of it illega. Gin made in a bathtub during the Prohibition. Twenty five cents a shot. Which was a LOT of money back then.
As a child I felt weary from all of the stories about their poverty. Never throwing anything away because it could be re-purposed, or “I might need this old door” someday.
I will post a song that I think encapsulates what I think is how my grandparents felt about coming to America if its appropriate.
I will say a prayer on my rosary for you Menagerie.
Thank you again for your post.
My opinion of this song verges on the edge of politics in this age so I’ll skip it.
Just a tribute to the elders in my life who immigrated to America. Hope all have much to be grateful for today.
Neil Diamond – We’re Coming to America
Thank you Menagerie for sharing your story. What a wonderful husband and friends you have, you are truly blessed. May God bless you and keep you and may God save America.
Many differ in their interpretation, but I’ve always viewed Thanksgiving as an immigrants holiday. Those who arrived in this new world giving thanks to those here, who helped them to adapt, adopt, and overcome after landing on these shores.
Many in my circles have often told me it is not their “culture,” so they do not celebrate nor give thanks on this day. These are the souls I value most at my table. And many have returned over the years and most celebrate now with friends and family or even host their own Thanksgiving festivities. We are a Nation of immigrants, and I see no better way to celebrate and preserve these rich histories and culture than to give thanks to those who have fostered our growth and facilitated our rise.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
There is not enough time or space to list all the things I am thankful for, so I will mention just a very few.
I am thankful that my brother, and my daughter, and many nieces and nephews and relations have served (or are serving) in the armed forces of the USA.
I am thankful that I am saved, even though it came late in my life. I am thankful that I have learned to learn, and have learned to think for myself.
I am thankful for so many things in my body which most people never notice, are working well. It is easy to be aware of things when something goes wrong, and to be blissfully unaware when things are well.
I am thankful that I and others I know, have been so richly blessed, even if we sometimes are not aware of how blessed we are.