No doubt about it. Fewer days are more enjoyable in life than Thanksgiving. This morning my 4 year old twin girls and my 2 year old boy joyfully woke us up early ready to celebrate the day. Of course this had to start with the latest episode of Mickey’s Clubhouse which just so happened to center around a theme of being thankful.
Thanksgiving is one of our most important celebrations we still revere as Americans. Being thankful is a key to being humble, staying dependent on God and hopeful for the future. Nothing makes faith easier when we take the time out to recall God’s hand in the past and present. Sadly, we only have one sanctioned day to reflect and most of us, if we are honest, focus more on food and football than we do being thankful. Back in Biblical times, festivals were held throughout the year as a way of demonstrating faith and giving thanks for all God had done.
Truthfully, each of us likely has a huge list of things we can thank God for and this Thanksgiving would be a good time to start a new tradition of putting them on a list to remind ourselves of how good we really have it.
I promise when you are done, you will be thankful.
Here’s my list in no particular order (I’m sure it will grow daily as I remember it all!):
• God himself, for Christ, his Grace to put up with me and the hope He gives me
• Life – another day without a tag on my toe is another to be thankful for
• Being an American
• My incredible wife Julie
• My twin daughters Chloe and Sidney
• My amazing son, Quinn
• The country and people of Korea
• The magic of adoption
• My dogs Max and Sam
• My mom and dad
• Julie’s mom and dad
• Everyone in the Speers and Wroten families (I have amazing in-laws)
• Our church
• Our home
• Our vehicles, especially the Vette, and yes, the minivan
• My business and AdzZoo
• Our amazing friends
• My business partner
• HPU and my days in Brownwood
• Dallas Cowboys and football!
• Sports in general
• Internet and Facebook!
• Our home and the things we have
• The DFW area
• The beach
• Childhood in Houston
• My skills, talents and abilities
• My life experiences
• Pizza – especially Mazzio’s
• Mexican food
• My Papa Jack and Grandma Kat
• Grandma’s homemade rolls
• Travel!
• Disney Channel
• The Wiggles
• The invention of DVR
• Digital cameras
• My lawn guy Stevie!
• Christmas
• ChickFiLa
• Dr. Pepper
• Texas
• Various business contacts and friends
• Snow skiing and the mountains
• Memories with dad at Astros and Rockets games
• Memories with mom shopping at the mall
• Computers and technology
• My health
• Loud music
• My thick hair at 40!
• My good eye-sight at 40!
• My kids good health
• Good movies and movie theater popcorn
• Growing up in the 80s
• Mickey Mouse
I guess ol’ Mickey had it right. It’s pretty hard to think of a better title to give Thanksgiving.
“Thanks a Bunch Day” fits perfectly.
Thanks Mickey….you made my list!
“Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy...” Nehemiah 8:12
© 2009, J. Brady"
“I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
