Much to be Thankful For
“We walk on starry fields of white and do not see the daisies…” Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Do we appreciate life and all it brings? This Thanksgiving we are given another chance to hold our loved ones tighter and be grateful for the moments we have. Peace around the world is seemingly more elusive each day and while we are blessed to have peace here at home, for others, those blessings are not as bountiful.
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, as Israelis were wrapping up their seven-day-long festival of Sukkot, the sounds of sirens announced what was an active and full-fledged surprise attack by the Hamas terrorist organization. Israel was being attacked by land, air, and sea. Terrorists arrived on motorcycles, motorboats, and paragliders, fired over 2200 rockets into Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and brought death and destruction to wherever they traveled. Within hours, the carnage was evident and devastation widespread. Homes and buildings were destroyed but the loss of life was most significant. Relentlessly, Hamas killed young and old (innocent babies and children), entire families, men, women, soldiers, and civilians, taking over 150 Israelis (many American citizens) hostage.
Perhaps just as shocking as this surprise attack on Israel is the antisemitism and fascism we are witnessing in America, most pronouncedly among the youth in college and university campuses. When the slaughter of a thousand innocents does little to bring about moral clarity but leaves our “best and brightest” rooting for the other side, America has a dangerous problem on its hands. Not only have we failed to educate our youth properly but the rise in antisemitism should shock us out of our stupor. What was fought and won in World War II was forgotten a few generations later. We are witnessing an educational failure, societal failure, and a religious void that has left us morally blind.
We have many problems in the United States, but this scale of antisemitism was not anticipated. We have uncontrollable inflation with families struggling to pay their bills; painfully high gas prices as we are no longer energy independent; monitoring and censorship of speech, forcing citizens to not opine freely; government and the media “uni-messaging” and influencing the masses; men infiltrating every aspect of women’s spaces (sports, job fairs, pageants, restrooms, locker rooms, etc.); children being indoctrinated in schools (from elementary through college) and taught to love socialism and hate America; a southern border that is wide open and has allowed 8 million illegals into our country from countries that are not friendly to the United States; and a weak foreign policy which has brought us to where we find ourselves today: with an aggressive Russia and an Israel that is fighting for its survival.
There is a lot of turmoil in the world and a great many troubles here at home. We must work hard to end the dangerous antisemitism that exists in our country. We will not concede to evil.
Despite America’s problems, we have many reasons to feel blessed for we are blessed. Despite her growing flaws, America is still the greatest country in the world, she still leads the free world, she remains the most generous nation the world has seen, and her people are among the most generous, freedom-loving and resourceful around.
Let us take advantage of the opportunities we are given to express love, kindness, and partake in the company of those we hold dear. This Thanksgiving, let us be extra thankful for the peace around us, the family with us, the food before us, and the life we are living. We have so much to be thankful for. God’s blessings to you.
Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.Anonymous