We had a lovely (though quiet) Thanksgiving. How about all of you?
My guess is that most people are doing one of three things today. Either they’re working, or they’re shopping or they’re lounging around in the wake of an abundant dinner. And when you think about it, all three of those options are pretty wonderful, aren’t they? That’s because it means you have a job, or you have the money to shop or you have plenty to eat.
Here on WND, once in a while I like to pause from my usual cadre of socio-political commentary to count my blessings, and I can think of no finer time than now.
- I’m blessed to have Jesus as my savior. Where would I be without his sacrifice?
- I’m blessed by our church, which offers a foundation of worship, learning and community.
- I’m blessed to be married for the last 24 years to my husband. He’s stuck with me through thick and thin, hard times and easy, good times and bad. Together we’ve raised two remarkable daughters, created businesses and built a small farm. Marital unity is an astounding blessing.
- I’m blessed by our kids. Now 16 and almost 19, they’re grown up to be decent, practical, level-headed, intelligent young women. A mom couldn’t be more proud of them.
- I’m blessed by my parents and brothers, who illustrate that stable, happy families can still exist in today’s nutty world.
- I’m blessed by our health. Although we’ve had a few ups and downs, right now we’re all healthy. Anyone who has lost his or her health will understand my gratitude.
- I’m blessed by the medical community. I’d be a widow right now were it not for modern medicine. I am more grateful than I can say for hard-working doctors, nurses and hospital staff.
- I’m blessed by our friends and neighbors. Collectively, they’re a wonderful group of people.
- I’m blessed we were able to homeschool our girls, which helped mold our children into stable, moral young adults. Since they have grown up free from the peer pressure that sends too many teens spiraling into emotional chaos, we’ve never had to battle the usual angst so often associated with adolescence.
- I’m blessed to live in a rural area. I’ve never liked cities. My roots are in the country. I’ve always had an affinity for nature and wildlife, and now I’m fortunate enough to live where I’m happiest.
- I’m blessed by our homestead. All my life I’ve wanted to live on a farm. Our homestead has afforded us endless learning opportunities in self-sufficiency. Our failures keep us humble. Our successes add to our knowledge. In today’s modern world, it’s the rare person who is truly connected with his food sources.
- I’m blessed by America. Despite its flaws and despite my concerns about its trajectory, it still offers the greatest freedoms of any place on earth.
- I’m blessed by our abundance. As demonstrated by Black Friday and other retail events, we do not live in a land of want – we live in a land of plenty. For most people, our physical needs and most of our desires can be met easily. Flick a switch, lights come on. Push a handle, I get clean potable water. Store shelves are full. How cool is that?
- I’m blessed by modern conveniences such as electricity, cars, phones, the Internet, etc. Although sometimes I rail and lament about the pitfalls associated with these conveniences, they have certainly rendered our lives easier.
- I’m blessed to be able to work from home. My husband and I have built a successful woodcraft business from the ground up; and we supplement that business with other at-home income streams as well. Living as remote and rural as we do, there are many times the weather does not encourage stepping foot outside the house. At such times, we can continue doing what we do to earn a living without facing a difficult commute.
- I’m blessed to write for WND and other organizations. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a child (you should see my earliest known story about Glinda the Fish, written when I was 7), and to achieve that goal, however modestly, is a dream come true.
- I’m blessed to still be able to write my opinions freely, and that the men in brown shirts haven’t come for me yet.
- I’m blessed by my readers. A writer isn’t much good without readers. Good, bad or ugly, they give me inspiration and encouragement, cyber-love and cyber-hate. They mourn with me and rejoice with me, take me to task when I’ve done something wrong, and in all ways act as an extended family.
- I’m blessed that we’re not rich. I know that sounds strange, but it’s true. When we first started our woodcraft business, we had 10 years of unbelievable leanness (OK, poverty) that taught us to be frugal and thrifty. That legacy has allowed us to adjust to a dire economy and given us the skills to hunker down and prepare for what I think will be a massive financial storm ahead.
- I’m blessed to realize people are starting to awaken from the apathy that has seized our country for the last few decades. We’re beginning to realize the government is not our friend, and maybe it’s better to look to ourselves to solve problems instead of expecting the government to do it for us.
- I’m blessed by the millions – billions – of genuinely nice people out there. We only hear news stories about the bad people, but how about the good ones? The ones that offer a smile, pick up garbage, help the homeless, volunteer in endless venues and otherwise make this world go round? A resounding “thanks” for being nice.
Right now, I don’t know what the future will bring for America. My family and I will celebrate our blessings while we can. I hope you’ll be inspired to do the same. And thank you for being a reader!
Media wishing to interview Patrice Lewis, please contact [email protected].
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