Give Thanx (The Prayer II)

Despite how you feel about this holiday (some of my friends refer to it as ThanksTaking as a way of reflecting the atrocities that befell the natural inhabitants of this land we call America) I want to take a moment to think about what this day is supposed to be about—whether you celebrate it or not.

While spending time with family and getting to stuff myself on mom’s home cooking are definite highlights, I feel like I haven’t always took note of the supposed thankfulness of Thanksgiving. We tend to get caught up in the four-day weekend, massive department store sales the next day, leftovers, parties, etc. Well, if you’ve been riding with me over the past few months, you’ll have noticed that I’ve grown a bit spiritually and as a person in general. There’s still a lot of work to do, but progress nonetheless. So this year, I’m a little more reflective and focused on the things I should be thankful for.

First and foremost, I’m thankful for God granting me the honor of waking up this morning and every morning this year. While I may complain about things in my life from time to time, I know that I am blessed and that each day is not guaranteed. So despite occasionally taking the blessing of life for granted, I am thankful for this day and as many more that He grants me.

I’m thankful for my family. Although I don’t speak or see them as much as I should or like, I have the utmost love for my mother and siblings. The first call I made this morning was to my mother. I was still half-asleep but I wanted her voice to be the first one I heard this morning (my little brother answered the phone but that’s close enough ☺). While my mother complained that I don’t call enough and I can concede to that fact, I love her with all my heart and even if we don’t speak every day I think about her constantly. I just have to work on picking up the phone and dialing those seven numbers or even just dropping a quick “hey” on IM when she’s online (the fact my mom has IM still bugs me out). But I am most certainly thankful for the sacrifices she has made and continues to make for me and my siblings, and the values and code of conduct she has instilled in us. Love you, mom.

I’m thankful for my sibling and their many accomplishments. Despite freezing my butt off in the rain, it was totally worth it to see my brother graduate from MIT this year. I’m so proud of that dude, as we all are. The same goes for my sister who has grown up to be such a strong and intelligent young woman. She is my heart and I look forward to seeing her cross a similar threshold in a few years. While my youngest brother may have had a bumpy year, I’m still thankful that we as a family were able to make our way through any drama and get back on track. Little bro, please know that I will never judge you for your mistakes but praise you for your accomplishments. I expect great things from you and take note of your trying to do better.

I’m thankful for the people that I call me their friend and those I have the honor of labeling the same. It’s when you’re down that you realize who truly has your back, and I know that I have a terrific supporting cast with quite a few surprise characters. No matter if we only speak once a month, via IM/texts/FaceBook/blog comments or surprisingly have never even met face-to-face, I am thankful for each and every person that has supported me in my dreams, hopes and aspirations.

I am thankful that I have a job. During the course of this past year I have seen several colleagues fall victim to budget cuts, I’ve seen the constant news reports about massive layoffs and financial deficits, and I know that the end is not near. So with that in mind, I’m most certainly thankful for the opportunity to earn a check and survive. While I’d love to earn more and be more comfortable, I understand my blessings and that there are hundreds more that are less fortunate and do not have the same luxuries that I can lay claim to (for now). In that same breath, though, I’m thankful that God has blessed me with true talents and skills that will hopefully carry me over any future hurdles that may lie before me.

I’m even thankful for my father. Although we don’t have the best relationship, I made a concerted effort to actually reach out and wish him and his family a happy Turkey Day. I never call him and we tend to only speak when he catches me on the phone, but if I’m going to have any real growth today and in my days ahead, I have to find forgiveness in my heart. This doesn’t erase 30-plus years of pain, but it’s a step in the right direction and I’m thankful for that.

There’s a host of other things that I can list, but the aforementioned are what I am most thankful for. So whatever your views are about Thanksgiving I hope that you take a moment in between stuffing your face and spending time with family and friends to give thanks for the things that matter most to you. Feel free to share some of those blessings here like I have, but if you opt not to just make sure to place that call or send that text to the people that are dearest to you and take a moment to reflect on what you are thankful for today and every day.

Thank you and your welcome…