A Time to Give Thanks

Friends,

This Thursday is Thanksgiving — a day set aside for us to give thanks to God for the many blessings in our lives.

As I was searching for Thanksgiving-related quotes several years ago, I found this one from H.U. Westermayer:  “The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts.  No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.”

It is all too easy to get so caught up wishing for what we don’t have, or bemoaning events that didn’t go our way, that we fail to recognize and appreciate the many blessings we do have.  It is easy to become consumed with the worries of the world rather than finding contentment in the things that really matter.

As Americans, we have much for which we should be thankful.  We have the God-given privilege of living in what I believe is still the greatest free society this world has ever known.   As Americans, we have unprecedented freedom and opportunity.  We have unparalleled prosperity.  We have the right to worship as we choose, speak our minds, keep and bear arms, and own and control private property.  We have the freedom to elect those who lead us and to speak out when we disagree with those leaders.

I am thankful to be an American.  I am also thankful to live in and have the privilege of serving the great County of Brunswick.

I  believe the gift from God that we call the United States of America is truly unprecedented in human history.  This gift comes with a responsibility of stewardship.  May we never take America for granted, and may we be eternally vigilant in our efforts to preserve and protect this great nation God has given us.

On Thursday, let us all take time to thank God for the great nation with which He has blessed us.

May you and yours have a safe, happy Thanksgiving holiday!

– Frank Williams