Have you counted your blessings lately?

I had a great idea for a Thanksgiving column. I would start with 1924, working up to 1974, would take a few thoughts of what the editors from 100 to 50 years ago were most grateful for.

I searched and searched, found nothing until 1944 when a headline on the Opinion page said, “They gave thanks in 1924; We can give thanks in 1944.”

The great start was a big disappointment. The article that followed had to do with a women’s club meeting.

We are void a 1954 edition of the Standard, so I went to 1964.

Still no real acknowledgement that Thanksgiving was coming, had come, or had past, unless you checked the grocery ads

But Christmas was everywhere. Beautiful pictures, wonderful stories, wonderful newsy pages for subscribers to read.

My idea of comparing what people were thankful for 100 years ago and the seven decades that follow the years I usually cover in Pages of the Past was a brilliant one, or so I thought.

Have you counted your blessings lately?  Do you stop and pause sometimes and give thanks for being born in America. For the freedoms we enjoy. For our families, friends, neighbors. To God for being with us every step of the way. Even when we step off the path and have to be nudged back. Thankful for those who give their lives to keep us free?  Thanks for our doctors, nurses, counselors, teachers, merchants, street-sweepers, garbage collectors, policemen, firefighters, pharmacists?

Yes, even in this divided country, do we stop and give thanks for those who govern us?  Give thanks that we have a choice in those who do the governing?

We have so much to be thankful for. 

I am not a Pollyanna who is always smiling and looking at the bright side, although I wish I was. But then I stop and realize that I have family, children, grandchildren, a warm house, food in my refrigerator, friends I can call on when I need help, and a God who looks after me, listens to me, and forgives me when I gripe and complain.

I plan on being “thankful,” and to count my many blessings, one by one. 

And not to listen to a single Christmas carol or watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” until the dishes are done, football games are over, and the last of the turkey has been eaten.

Then, and only then, I’ll get out my  collection of Christmas golden oldies: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “White Christmas,” Holiday Inn.”

If you’ve eaten your turkey and counted your blessings, feel free to come join me. I’ll even provide the popcorn.