Why I’m Thankful Today…What are you thankful for ?

vanity

[virgil283]

Mom and Dad had suffered through the depression and then through the war. Money was hard to come by. Dad worked rotating shifts in a mill and Mom in an office downtown. Every purchase they made was with deliberation and study so not one cent was wasted. But they gave a tithe, 10%, to our church, down to the penny because God would honor their giving. And you know that is what He did, we seemed to avoid problems that plagued others.

As a teenager I was fretted at my parents because other kids had cars and the latest clothes while I rode the bus and wore those awful jeans from Sears and Robuck.

[virgil283]

However when we visited one set of my cousins I saw a different world. My uncle was a rounder. He drank and gambled at a shothouse while his children went hungry. They owed at every store and shop in town. They moved into houses then stopped paying rent. No screens on the windows and light was a bulb hanging from the ceiling. Furniture was what ever could be picked up from the curb on trash day. Clothes were given by the local churches. My cousin put on a brave face but he was worried, what would happen tomorrow, would they be out on the street?

I’m thankful for good parents who loved me, feed me and kept me safe. Despite all the times I got into trouble, the car wrecks, the fights, their money I wasted and the nights they spent in worry… they still loved me.

I’m thankful for parents who taught me to respect and honor God in what ever I did…..I’m Thankful….

Please tell us why you are thankful.

[Baynative]

I was born in the greatest country the world has know during the greatest era man has known. I’m thankful I got to witness the greatness before the fall.

[fatnotlazy]

Your parents sound like mine. They were the greatest generation in more ways than one.

I’m thankful because almost 6 years ago, I was lying on a table in a hospital surrounded by assorted medical professionals, one of whom was performing CPR on me. God had mercy on me. He gave me another chance to do things right this time. I hope and pray I am on the right path. I’m grateful to Him for His blessings on me.

He has also given me a wonderful family and plenty of friends. Never mind they are all liberals. When things go wrong, they are there. We are there for each other. Not many people have that. Friends and family are worth more than money or fame.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I am grateful that I married a good and clever man 55 years ago who is still a great father and husband. We have been through good and bad times, but by the Grace of God have survived.

[Viennacon]

I’m thankful I came to God after a long time in the wilderness, and I’m thankful that in the end, it is already set in stone that good triumphs over evil.

[lowbridge]

Sorry to rain on your parade, but here goes.

My parents split up when I was young, around 5-6 years old. Mother, who got custody of us kids, was a crazed, mentally ill psychotic who abused us kids physically, mentally, and emotionally (which has so far affected us fir the rest of our lives). Not a thanksgiving, or any holiday, went by without her screaming, yelling, nagging, and complaining. Her problem wasnt alcohol or drugs. She took neither. It was just flat out mental illness (for which she never sought or got treatment).

So, what have I got to be thankful for? Well, being born in america as opposed to someplace really tyrannical like north korea is all I can think of. Aside from that, I got nothing else to be thankful for.

[Tired of Taxes]

Lowbridge - Everyone has a cross to bear, but there’s always something to be thankful for.

Right now, I’m just thankful that my children are healthy, that my mother and brother are healthy, and that I’m still alive.

[crazycatlady]

These sound like some of my mothers depression stories. She and Daddy have been gone for decades now and I miss them, but still have things to be thankful for. I have 3 cats who make me feel needed. I was able to find a good place to live in Everett when my building in Seattle was torn down. I have a chronic illness but am grateful for the drugs and other medical technology that gives me reasonably good quality of life and probably a life expectancy almost that of a regular person.(Please don’t mention Obamacare) I have wonderful friends. I an grateful for the beauties of nature.And of course I was born American. When I was little I also used to thank God for making me Montanan, because Montanans are very arrogant about their state.

[Dianna]

Aside from that, I got nothing else to be thankful for.

I' m sorry, lowbridge. That sounds like a terrible childhood. You couldn't control that, but you do have control of your adulthood and it sounds like you've done nothing with it but stew over your hard start. No friends? No spouse or children? No job? Your health? Your ability to see and hear and feel and think? You can read, you can write. You can witness the awesomeness of the ocean, marvel at the Grand Canyon, ponder the mystery of the moon and tides...

My 14 year old son was killed in an accident 7 years ago this Christmas. I am more grateful for everything I have today than I was then. I'm so glad God enabled me to see that. Prayers for you my FRiend.

[OldPossum]

Please tell us why you are thankful.

I'm thankful that I got to grow up in the 1940s and 1950s instead of being, say, a teenager today.

[Conservative4Ever]

I too, grew up in a somewhat dysfunctional childhood. But, I decided at a young age to leave that behind and get on with my life. Was it always idyllic after that, no. A marriage was made and dissolved. Careers were changed, places of living came and went, but through it all I had my children, to instruct them of life's challenges and joys. Holidays, family traditions and the overriding fact of living in the greatest country on God's green earth. On this one wonderful day of the year, we as a nation bow our heads and give thanks to God for our many blessings and I try to remember to give thanks everyday for my many blessings. I can only hope you have joy and purpose in your days. Happy Thanksgiving.

[Windflier]

Lowbridge, my own childhood story is nearly a mirror image of yours. You obviously survived your mother, as did I.

Despite my mom slowly turning into a very disturbed person during the course of my youth, she (and my dad) definitely gave me some things which have served me well my entire life - chief of which, are my personal and cultural values.

Like you, I have deep disappointments and disagreements with my parents, but those things don’t count for nearly as much as the priceless life orientation they instilled in me as a child. For that, I’m eternally grateful to them. Without that, I would never have survived the trials I did as a young adult.

[leapfrog0202]

I’m grateful that when I was a very young, self-absorbed teenager of 19, (1980) I was fortunate enough to find and marry my husband.

2 great daughters quickly followed and starting in 1988 I struggled with undiagnosed severe depression for 12 years before being diagnosed. My husband had no idea what to do to help me, didn’t recognize what was wrong and because we were stationed overseas, we were cut off from family.

Thanks to primarily his efforts, our girls got through that period of my life relatively unscathed. I was never violent with any of them and never attempted suicide, but simply waking up every day and deciding to keep on going was a struggle for me.

Had I married a lesser man, who knows where I’d have ended up and heaven forbid the damage that could have been done to our kids’ psyches. I love the girls, their husbands and sons any my husband him with everything I have. I thank God he saw fit to put a man in my life that was a keeper.

[Nea Wood]

I’m thankful for stories like yours that remind us what’s really important.

[virgil283]

Thanks that was a very nice thing to say...