Thanksgiving

I've never delved into the true meaning of history behind Thanksgiving. I really have interest in doing so. Not really from a selfish-minded standpoint, but from the knowledge of the bits and pieces that I found disturbing. I feel that, if I heard every detail, then I may never look at it the same again.

I grew up with Thanksgiving as a time of fellowship. I time to break bread with family that you only saw every once in a while either at passing, or when another family member passed away. As a perk of seeing the ones you love, you get to eat some of the finest foold out there whether you have a traditional meal, or start a tradition of your own.

The foundation for a good thanksgiving meal is turkey, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato pie, and dressing. As long as you have those, you're good to go. Our family usually add potato salad, and turnip greens to the mix. This year we stepped it up a notch with a brocolli casserole, and a green bean casserole. I've always been the dessert guy. I bring the sweets to the table. I toned it down a bit this year with only an egg custard, and a honey bun cake (my mother's two favorites).

I've always been very family oriented, and there's nothing better to me than a family in harmony. You can have all the differences in the world, but once the tables are set, the plates are fixed, and the blessing is said, all problems cease as we get lost in that meal.

I have a lot to be grateful for. Despite the things I've been through in my life, I'm grateful for the chance I've been giving to learn, and to draw strength from my trials. I'm thankful for being allowed to live my dream of being a published author, and double proud that my second book in the same number of years is about to be released next month. I call it an early Christmas gift, especially since it will be released 3 days before it. A lot of people, some that I know and other tht I don't have purchased my first book and all feedback has been positive. Of course, there are some who instead of wanting or trying to support you, will try theit best to discredit you and whatever strides you may be making but, I've learned that you can't let those situations blind your path. Everything you do must be done to elevate yourself, to allow you to continue to move forward. It took a lot for me to learn that. It took a lot for me to let go of things and just live. Being grateful is a big part of that.

We should not only make a note of things that we are grateful for on this day, but we should also carry those things and continuously say thank you each day forward. True thanksgiving is a 24-7 event. The bible even says Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. To be thankful to me, for not just the good things, but also for the bad, uncertain, and in between, is one of the biggest components in becoming whole, or, coming into your destiny as a child of God. I believe that our relationship with Him is important. I believe that if we lean on Him, speak our minds to Him, and listen with all your might, that we will always be led in the right direction.

I'm tnakful today, this day, every day, for life, for love, for family, and for God, because if it were not for Him, John Keenan or Don Savant would not truly exist. Thank You.

God Bless you all.

-Don