100 Reasons to be Thankful, Even in Hard Times

November 26th, 2009 by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

For my article this week, I decided to ask people (young and old) what they were thankful for this Thanksgiving. Truly, we have much to thank God for! I offer my thanks to all who helped me with this, and wish all of you a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for . . .

The health of my family.
Taking naps on the couch or in the backyard.
Driving the scenic route.
Community events open to the public.
My (flawed) relationships with God and my family, both immediate and extended. Flawed relationships are much better than none at all!
My wife and I have grown together and I am constantly grateful and impressed as she matures.
The Word of God.
Brief and productive meetings.
Quilts and blankets, to keep me warm.
My wonderful family and for my best friend, who has always been there with quiet support, encouragement, and words of wisdom, through thick and thin since the day we met.
The incredible diversity of people on this planet.
Co-workers who don’t mind switching their days off to help you out.
Toys.
Dirty dishes because it means we have eaten. Thank you for baby giggles; they keep me sane.
That God made me.
Teddy bears.
The feel of a child’s hand in mine.
Waking up when you need to even when the alarm doesn’t go off.
Babies.
The day being silent now that it’s over for the little ones.
Movies and CDs being available at libraries.
The convenience of e-mail.
Wrinkle-free clothing.
Christmas lights.
Friends who care about me enough to tell me when I am being stupid.
Our Veterans.
Books, because I can experience the world, learn new things, laugh, cry and connect without ever leaving my couch.
My job, especially in this economy.
Religious leaders.
Volunteers.
A cup of hot cocoa on a cold day.
Family and friends; love them all!
The smell of homemade desserts baking in the oven.
Listening to beautiful music.
Friends meeting over a cup of tea; a fire in the hearth; a friendly game of Scrabble.
My kids, who can always make me laugh.
Being friends with my parents.
Every member of my family, especially for my mom who is a constant source of support, encouragement and friendship.
Enjoyable conversation between friends.
Hugs.
My family, have a job, having health insurance, and being loved as much as I am.
My health, even if I complain about certain aches and pains!
My family, my fiancé and being able to go to college.
Having a roof over my head.
Finding a dollar in an old coat you haven’t worn in years.
Enjoyable hobbies and pursuits in life.
The forgiveness of God.
Schools and colleges.
A dictionary & thesaurus, both within arms reach.
Repairing an object yourself and having it come out perfectly.
Hot showers after a hard day of work to ease away the stress of the day.
The express line at the grocery store.
The generosity of strangers.
“Chick Flicks” vs. “Action Movies” and explaining why yours is more
enjoyable to the “other team”.
Tossed aside treasures at tag sales or wherever they may be found.
Duct-Tape!
Good role-models we can point to for children to aspire to emulate.
Indoor plumbing - imagine life without it.
Date nights.
Inspiring words that lift our souls in times of crisis.
Youth and amateur sports leagues to both watch and play in.
People who obey traffic regulations.
The trials and losses in my life for they have helped me become a stronger and better person!
Our favorite instructors and teachers.
People who enjoy reading what we write.
Chocolate!
Hidden places that you can sneak away to.
Health care workers.
Internet Maps and GPS devices.
Lucky old coins and favorite treasures, both precious and humble.
The spring that will come after the winter.
All those who came before us great and small have a story to tell. That
is what history is all about. So I am thankful to be able to know and learn
their story.
Old libraries and their treasures which lay hidden and wait to be
re-discovered.
People with interesting personalities who make the world better or at
the very least, more interesting.
Brothers and sisters.
Word processing software.
Sitting in an open field on a crystal clear night and enjoying the
celestial display above.
Our furry four-legged friends who have chosen to live their lives with us.
Being able to sit at a computer and just watch music videos when we are
supposed to be working.
Sunrises, sunsets, ocean waves, hidden forests, mossy rocks and mountain
streams and all the other wonderments of nature.
Our Guardian Angels who stay with us even when we try to refuse their help.
A child’s laughter.
The wisdom of elders.
Works of art.
Those perfect parking places which sometimes we are lucky enough to get.
The creative minds of others and what they share with us all.
Photos, for capturing a moment in time.
Relaxing periods of quiet during a busy day.
To live in a free country.
Bookmarks! No need to fold pages!
Museums.
Social Networking sites. I’ve always wanted to know what people I
haven’t seen since grade school are up to.
Sweaters, hats, scarves and gloves.
Search engine searches that actually turn up useful results.
Good listeners.
Parks.
Hand-written letters.
Bread, the universal side to any meal.
Buy one, get two free sales.
People who commit their lives to protecting and preserving our cities, states and country.

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur has a Master of Arts degree in Applied Theology from Elms College, and is editor of SpiritualWoman.net. She is also the author of Letters to Mary from a Young Mother (2004).

(This article was originally printed in Canticle magazine. It is used with permission.)

Amen my FRiend.

I give thanks for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has granted me life, liberty, and all things...I am thankful for a loving wife who has stood by me and with me these last 32 tears, and for five children, and six grandhcildren, who have taught me far more than anything I have taught them, and for loving and wise parents who indeed trained and raised me up in the way I should go, nuturing, teaching, correcting, and having patience with me through it all, for three brothers who all grew into good and strong men, I am grateful for a free lan, the United States of America, the well spring of God-granted liberty in this world, and a Republic maintained by the Hand of Providence these over two centuries, and for friends, particularly patriot friends who are standing for liberty, fundmental moral and republican principle, for individual responsibility and the free market.

As a result of all of these blessings...all of which I credit to a loving and merciful God...I know that there is hope, true hope in our land, and that we shall, though the fight be long and hard, ultimately restore our constitutional Republic to the path it was intended.

So, let my words, and those at the following link, which are modeled on George Washington's original Thanksgiving Proclamation, sound out loud and clear, like a clarion bell, and a sounding trumpet to the millions, yea the tens of millions of like-minded Americans everywhere..

A 2009 THANKSGIVING DAY PROCLAMATION

Such statements and commitment to the fundamental and foundation moral and republican principles that are the bedrock of this nation stand in stark contrast to what we see in the White House and the halls of Congress today.

THE MAN WHO DESPISES AMERICA

But as George Washington also said, when conteplating the future troubles we would face as a nation and a people,

"The Great Governor of the Universe has led us too long and too far to forsake us in the midst of it. We may, now and then, get bewildered; but trust that there is good sense and virtue enough left to recover the right path. " - George Washington

I believe that with all me heart there is more than enough virtue and good sense left, and that we are already seeing it rise up in opposition to today's infrngements and betrayals.

AWAKEN, O AMERICA, YOUR LIBERTY IS CALLING (Inspiring Video)

912: AMERICA AWAKENS IN 2009

AMERICA AT THE CROSSROADS OF HISTORY

12 STEPS TO RENEW AMERICA

Prayer for the Nation

John Carroll (1735-1815) the first Catholic bishop in America (1790), and in 1808 he became the first archbishop of Baltimore, Bishop Carroll wrote a prayer asking God's blessing on the president, Congress, and government of the United States for the first American diocesan synod, November 10, 1791, "for all the ranks of society and for the welfare of the Republic".

We pray Thee, O Almighty and Eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy Mercy, that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name.

We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope [N.N.], the vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of His Church; our own bishop (or archbishop), [N.N.]; all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.

We pray Thee, O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through Whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy holy spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of the United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for his excellency, the Governor of this State, for the members of the Assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world can not give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen

--Prayer for the Nation and the Civil Authorities
John Carroll of Baltimore, First Bishop of the United States
10 November 1791

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