Reasons To Be Thankful
Thanksgiving will be here in just a couple days. It’s a time families gather around the table and celebrate with a huge meal, some fellowship, reminiscing, love and laughter—unless of course, your family has broken relationships due to disagreements and different opinions.
It isn’t uncommon for these kinds of scenarios; and in fact it’s probably unusual if it doesn’t happen! When these kinds of circumstances upend a family gathering, it’s difficult sometimes to keep the celebration cordial, much less filled with thankfulness. But we do need to try; even if it’s hard.
Communication is important and no family is perfect. There always seems to something we need to ‘work around’. Human nature demands it. We want to share our hearts and time with our families and friends, -especially this time of year, and sometimes we have to approach it in a non-traditional way!
But there is another circumstance which can create its own difficulties, which is often overlooked by those who aren’t intimately involved. Not only can ‘this’ circumstance bring difficulties, but a feeling of loneliness and rejection from the community at large; it’s having a disability.
Thankful For Communication
A disability on the other hand, can seem like an unlikely reason to be thankful, but there are those who don’t look at their disability as something to be ignored, considered dreadful, or even something to consider anything less than a blessing.
There are those who are just grateful for the ability to communicate. A blind person obviously can’t rely on his sight to be able to read body language or even make eye contact. But using their other senses allows them to the opportunity to communicate in more creative ways.
A non-verbal person may communicate through use of an iPad or computer. By typing what he/she wants to say, they can express more clearly what they are thinking. This is especially important if trying to communicate with someone who doesn’t know sign language.
These ideas indicate there are other ways to communicate, even if abilities are demonstrated in a non-traditional way. In many different kinds of settings, it’s vital to a sense of inclusion and deepening a feeling of ‘belonging’ when a person knows they can be understood, and on the other side of this—- gain understanding! This is indeed, reason to be thankful!
What Are You Thankful For?
I wonder, what are you thankful for on this Thanksgiving holiday? I have a long list, but I will name a few. I’m most thankful for my faith which sustains me daily; my family—husband, children, grandchildren, and extended family through aunts, uncles, and cousins. I’m also thankful for my church family, for the ability to write and share my thoughts, our home, pets, the ability to travel on occasion, food and clothes, friends, neighbors, first responders, technology that allows me to communicate with a large audience, an education and the list could go on for a long time! I’m sure you get the picture!
I hope you’ll share your thoughts of thankfulness! It’s always a joyous time when we can verbalize (or in some other way) express our heartfelt thanks for our blessings!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Be Blessed!
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