Thanksgiving what does it truly mean

In our world today it is a shame in many ways of what we have become. It is a constant rush to get everything done with in a certain amount of time, to have our children participate in all these activities, to have the latest technology, to keep on going until we are exhausted. The news isn't much better because often there will be stories on murder, attacks, rape, politicians getting into trouble, and it continues on.

This is to be the time of the year that we are to stop for a moment and spend time with our family & friends. But like in the end it is only a moment. We still rush to get all the dishes done in time, to get ready to go shopping on Black Friday, to get the Christmas cards done, the presents done and shipped, prepare for Christmas and New Years, etc....

We do need to actually stop and take the time not just a moment but longer. We need to enjoy the time we do have to spend with friends and family because we don't know how long they will be with us or we will be with them. We need to stop worrying about having all the dishes made and sit down to talk to them. We need to stop worrying about people getting the Christmas cards in time, instead write a letter after the New Year starts. We need to stop worrying about the presents for every Tom, Dick and Harriet because they don't often need them.

What we really need to do is be thankful for what we have instead. That our friends and family are trying to spend time with and appreciate it. That many friends have become part of our family. That we need to be grateful that we have a roof over our heads when many others don't. That we have food to put on the table several times a day when some only get one meal a day. That we have people to share it with and others don't right now. That our loved ones are protecting this country in many ways. We can also be thankful for God because he is the one that walks besides us as we are on our path, guides the right way and sometimes he is the one that carries us without us realizing it.

So we can take what we have and not only appreciate it but give it back as well. Just one act of kindness however small each day. Whether it is opening a door for someone coming out, paying a toll for the person behind you, buying their coffee, being polite to the waiter or waitress more than usual by calling them by their name, little things can make such a difference not only in our life but theirs as well. So this year be thankful and grateful and pay it forward.

What to do

is the question we often ask ourselves when put into a situation that we are not familiar with. Is there a answer or a solution that we are going to like or it is going to go against what do want, like, our beliefs or anything else that we are against. It could be small or it could be big or it could be in between. We have to sit down and really think about what we would do, what do we think is right. But is it truly right? is it truly the right way? Is someone going to get hurt in solving the problem besides ourselves? If it is just us being hurt how much more can we take? Or sometimes do we need to go against everything and instead put ourselves at the mercy of God and the way he wants our life to be, not the way we think we want it to be. That is the right way to go in every situation but often we forget that, forget that we are at God's mercy. We have to be patient, understanding, patient, calm, and wait. We might not like that we have to wait, we might not like that we have to be patient, and we might not like the situation taking so long to solve but patience and understanding is something we need to remember whether we like it or not. Patience is a word that has been repeated multiple times because it is an important part of our lives, that too is sometimes forgotten. In the end whether it is minutes, or a day, or a week, or a month or even longer we have to remember it will work out for the best whether we like it or not.