"Think about the good things you have today."

As I was working at my computer the other day, I noticed a fortune out of a fortune cookie sitting on my desk. The fortune read, "Think about the good things you have today."

As this is November, and traditionally the time we here in the USA turn our thoughts to Thanksgiving and all the good things we have, I decided to blog on this. (Nice when a ready-made topic comes your way).

What do I have to be thankful for?

1. My belief in God and Jesus Christ. I am thankful that I was raised to believe in God & Christ, and that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That when I heard the lessons about the LDS Church, I was receptive and accepting of the lessons that I heard, that I was baptized a member, and have been a member of this church for 40 years now.

2. Being a citizen of the USA. Sure, our country's not perfect, but I'd rather be here than any other nation on the earth. We have a lot more freedoms than most. I can worship as I choose, I can travel wherever I want, whenever I want, however I want--maybe with a few more hassles than before 9/11, but still, if I decide to make a plane reservation and fly to Colorado to visit my dad--I don't have to plan in advance and ask permission from a gov't. agency.

3. My Family. I have 6 children, a great (most of the time) husband, 9 1/2 grandkids, a great brother and sister-in-law, and various and assorted other relatives whom I know and love. Without family, where are we? We have a friend who doesn't know where his family is. His mother died a few years ago, his sisters left town and do not keep in touch with him. It's sad to think that when the holidays come, he won't be spending them with his family. Sure, they're not perfect, but they're mine, and I love them anyway, "warts and all."

4. My home. It's not the fanciest place, but it's still better than a lot of homes in the world. It's a refuge, it's the place I come to and know that I can be safe here, and shut the rest of the world out if I want to.

5. My health. Not perfect, but no major ailments--just some achy, creaky joints and such that come our way with advancing age. Could be a lot worse!

6. Food to eat. We are so blessed in this nation that food is (usually) readily available to us. There are many starving in other nations, and for that matter even here. I am grateful that I have never known true hunger. My heart goes out to those who do know what it's like to be really hungry.

7. My ancestors. Those who know me, know that I have an insatiable obsession (or passion, borrowed from Nicolas Cage in "National Treasure") to know who my forefathers were. I've had plenty of success in finding them, and realizing that most of them came to this country in its beginning years and helped shape its greatness. They were not influential people, by any means. Just "people," like you and me; but it's people who make this society what it is. I am grateful that they were led here so that I could be born in this country with all the privileges and blessings that I enjoy.

8. My talents. I have nothing remarkable in the way of talents, but I have enough to keep me satisfied. I can sew reasonably well. I can knit, enjoy other crafts, have a passable singing voice, am a good listener, and I'm sure there's more I'm overlooking but these will do for starters. We all have talents. We should be thankful for them.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I hope we'll all take some time to think about what we have and what we are thankful for.

"Think about the good things you have today."