Happy Thanksgiving!

If you watch the nightly news, sometimes there doesn’t seem to be much to be thankful for. It’s easy to forget all the good stuff because we’re overwhelmed with the bad. School shootings, every kind of natural disaster imaginable, people hating on other people…the list is long. Since it is, I’m not going to go any further with that list. It’s too depressing. Instead, let’s focus on the good stuff. Here’s my list of things to be thankful for:

Beds. The Flintstones would be SO jealous if they slept on my mattress.

Rainbows. Seriously, is there anything more spectacular?

Cats. You knew that was coming, didn’t you?

Dogs. Yes. They’re pretty great, too. (Just not as much as cats.)

Electric blankets. Not much better than getting into a warm bed on a cold night.

Trees. They provide shade, make the landscape pretty, give the birds a home, and make a safe place for kitty babies to escape from the wayward dog.

Daisies. Hard to look at a daisy and not smile.

Rain. Dancing on a tin roof, watering the plants, filling the lakes.

Family. There when you need them. There when you don’t.

Cookies. Fresh out of the oven, warm and tasty.

Bathtubs. I would never have made it in the days before tubs. Not much is more relaxing than a hot bath.

Potatoes. Au gratin, baked, fried, steamed, boiled, etc. The only way you can ruin a potato is by putting sour cream on it.

Toilets. Ever used an outhouse? Yep. Toilets.

Friends. Who love you in spite of yourself.

TV. Specifically, the Game Show Network. Still good, clean fun.

Books. You can travel the world and never leave your recliner.

Grandkids and greatgrandkids. They remind you that everything in life is awe inspiring.

Policemen. Yes, there are bad ones. There are also bad ministers, accountants, doctors, and pretty much every occupation. But the police always there when we need them.

Vegetables. Corn, green beans, black-eyed peas, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, etc. Okra, asparagus and Brussel sprouts don’t make the list. Sorry.

I could go on, but I won’t, because the list of things to be thankful for really is endless. When considering a difficult decision, an old technique is to make a list of pros and cons. See which is the longest and go with that. In life, that’s not a bad idea. When the nightly news is too depressing, focus in on all the little things that make life worth living. The things we take for granted and may not even notice. Like the refrigerator until it stops working. Or our heart until it skips a beat. Or, this time of year, if you’re a turkey…thank God for vegetarians.

So, here’s my suggestion. When you’re watching the nightly news, every time they mention something bad, think of something good. Something from your personal list of things that you’re thankful for or that make you smile. Here’s one final one of mine to get you started.

Love. From your family and friends. More importantly, the love that started it all. The life that was given for us solely because of love. The love that transcends all. The love that can save a nation or a soul. Focus in on that love and the rest won’t matter. Love really can conquer all. Feel free to comment below with your own list.