Thanksgiving is a time for reflection.  It’s a time to be thankful for the many blessings in your life.  I’ll be honest though, I think America has it wrong.

Families gather together and eat way too much food, drink way too much alcohol and often top it off with artery-clogging desserts.  This is all wonderful and good but it’s hard to capture that spirit of true thanksgiving in that setting.

If you recall the story, Thanksgiving was initially set aside to remember those who sacrificed so much to establish our way of life.  So, if you’re truly looking to find a spirit of thanksgiving, look for it in places you wouldn’t expect.

Thanksgiving is found in the cry of a newborn baby or the teething moans of a toddler who is “celebrating” the arrival of new molars. It’s found in the rebellious teenager and the no-it-all college student home for the holidays.  It’s found in the hearts of NY Yankees fans who’ve suffered through a bad season.  It’s found in the hearts of Pittsburgh Pirates fans who’ve suffered through a few bad decades.  It’s in the hearts of Chicago Cubs fans who’ve suffered through a few bad centuries.  The true meaning of Thanksgiving can be found in the times when it doesn’t make sense to be thankful.  It’s found in the times when you struggle to see the positive.  The true spirit of Thanksgiving is hard word sometimes but the payoff is great… I think.