posted on November 24, 2015 by Jeanne Devlin

What Are You Thankful for This Thanksgiving?

Give ThanksThanksgiving has always been my father’s favorite holiday. A man not prone to over-hyped or commercialized holidays, he has always appreciated the one holiday of the year that simply asks for us to come together and give thanks.

The fact that Thanksgiving comes with turkey and gravy—and a slice of pecan pie, well, Dad believed that just confirmed the wisdom of his choice.

As I write this, I am grateful to still have my dad and mom around for a little longer. I’m grateful for siblings who do their best to keep our family gatherings joyful and peaceful, as I know too many clans who can’t let bygones be bygones. I’m grateful for the children God gave me, and for the cousin and friends who held me up when I lost my oldest son.

I’m grateful for a President who tries every day to remind us to be true to our best selves, and for a country in which we are free to speak our mind and, yes, to disagree (though I can’t help but wish the mothers of talk radio and cable news pundits and politicians would take this Thursday to remind their offspring about the importance of good manners—if only for America’s children who can’t possibly understand why grown-ups in powerful positions are allowed to name-call and behave in ways that would them in a corner on a time-out).

I’m grateful for America’s teachers and nurses, for our soldiers and first-responders, for the people who keep our towns and cities clean and those who keep us safe.  I’m grateful for good neighbors and for those who care for our ill, elderly, and poor.

I’m grateful for public libraries and bookstores and shelters for those fleeing homelessness or abuse or in need of a second chance, as well as the librarians, booksellers, and kind souls who keep them open.  I’m grateful for our national parks and the little neighborhood park down the block.

And, of course, I’m grateful for all the authors who write and give us books—the better to understand each other and this journey we call life, the better to recognize love in all its many forms, and the better to provide a welcome escape when the waters of life get rough.

As you ready your family’s table for Thanksgiving this year, for what are you grateful?

One person who comments on today’s blog will win a giant bag of swag (including books) from RWA 2015!

Jeanne Devlin

Jeanne Devlin

Jeanne Devlin

Jeanne Devlin is editor of The RoadRunner Press, an award-winning traditional publishing house based in the American West. An editor of newspapers, magazines, and books for more than thirty years, she has also worked on national marketing and publicity campaigns with such publishers as Simon and Schuster and St. Martin's and for a number of New York Times bestselling authors, including Robyn Carr, Sabrina Jeffries, Debbie Macomber, Linda Lael Miller, and Wendy Corsi Staub. A graduate of the Stanford University Publishing Course, Jeanne is a member of the Children's Book Council, the National Book Critics Circle, and the Oklahoma Center for the Book of the Library of Congress. She also consults with boutique publishers.

http://www.theroadrunnerpress.com

23 thoughts on “What Are You Thankful for This Thanksgiving?”

  1. Colleen Beavers says:

    This year my fiance and I were in a terrible car accident when someone hit us head on. Everyone from the police to the surgeon said we all should have died. My fiance had to be air lifted to the hospital and operated on even though they thought he would die anyway. We’re both still in rough shape but we’re alive and engaged now. I’m incredibly grateful that we both made it out alive and we can still be together. We can still live our lives and that’s the best thing we can ask for.

  2. Shannon S says:

    So much to be thankful for, my mom being cancer free, my dad’s successful pacemaker surgery, my 4 sons who I was told I would never have and the continued love of my husband.

    1. You sound so blessed — what a wonderful grateful list!

  3. Brandy aab says:

    I am thankful for the air I breath, my husband and my children, I am thankful I can raise my girls with love and compassion.

  4. specjanell says:

    This year, I am glad that my father-in-law is finally getting full-time care after struggling with depression and other things after his wife died. I am also grateful that my immediate family will get to spend Thanksgiving together.

  5. Stacy wright says:

    I am thankful for the men and women over seas who can’t be home this year for the holidays! It is then we should thank!

  6. Amanda Sheila says:

    I will always grateful and thankful for my family; especially my mum and my older sister. They both my rocks and without them, I can never be who I am right now. My dad, he’s never around so it’s just us girls versus the world. And for that, I’m proud to have them. 😉

  7. peggy clayton says:

    So grateful that when i take my medicine in the day that i can walk if not i would be in a wheelchair all day so i love using my legs taking the girls out to do their duty!

    1. Such an inspiration to all of us — to be grateful for things like creaky knees that still manage to carry us hither and yon!

  8. Diane Sallans says:

    I’m thankful for may family (who I got to see last weekend since they will be elsewhere for Thanksgiving) and for the books that make me laugh!

    1. The world would be such a poorer place without books that make us laugh!

  9. Julie Parrish says:

    Im thankful for the time spent with family, good health, good jobs and wonderful friends

  10. Lavern Lindberg says:

    I am thankful for my husband and daughter and that my parents are still alive to spent Thanksgiving with.

  11. Georgia says:

    I’m thankful to be able to live the life I want. I’m thankful for the partnership and love I’ve shared with my husband for the past 30 years. I’m thankful that while I won’t be seeing my sisters this holiday, there is technology that will let us have face-to-face phone calls. I’m beyond thankful for my beautiful daughters and especially thankful for our 2 new shelter babies that have brought us so much laughter and love!

    1. You have figured out how to live a beautiful life — have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  12. Christina says:

    I am grateful for what is left of my family and the unconditional love they give me.

  13. Karlene Barger says:

    I’m thankful for my wonderful family, my husband of 38 years and our three grown children who can always make me laugh and for my extended family (sister, brothers, nieces, nephews.) For all the good times, God bless us everyone!

  14. Ellen says:

    I am thankful for the health and safety of all my nieces, nephews, and greats (total of 21 kids) as they grow up and go out into the world!

  15. JESSICA zeidan says:

    I am thankful for my family and wonderful friends who are always there for me I am thankful for my 3 wonderful nephews for everyday that I wake up!

  16. I’m thankful to have my kids home from college and time to spend with friends and family.

  17. John Moussiaux says:

    I’m thankful for. . .
    Being here. That’s really the base of the cake, isn’t it? The rest of it is frosting and sprinkles. Just being able to say “I’m thankful” honestly is something to be thankful for.

  18. MC says:

    I’m not cooking, but still need to prepare a couple of side dishes for Thanksgiving. This year I am most thankful for my family, including my friends who I think of as family.

  19. E. L. Davis says:

    I am thankful to be healthy, I wish I was wealthy, and almost wise.

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