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Commentary

By Liz Quirin

A Grateful Time of Year

Leaves are swirling as chill winds blow from the north, forcing us, even without a calendar, to realize fall has settled here with winter not far behind. That means, of course, that Thanksgiving will shortly arrive. Whether you’re considering a turkey or “tofurkey” or maybe just a bologna sandwich, the time is right to reflect and realize we can count many blessings.

We can more easily count our troubles than blessings: an economy that causes all of us to shudder and stop looking at our retirement investments; illnesses that afflict so many relatives and friends; jobs that are disappearing faster than we can comprehend; foreclosures that rival any time in history; a war that continues to forever change families’ lives; and, well, this list is endless.

So too, should the list of blessings be endless. Sometimes in the midst of our troubles, we don’t see clearly all that we have. Here’s a partial list of the people and things for which I am grateful:

For my family and my children, who are now grown and off my personal payroll. It was a long time coming, and I can’t quite seem to let one of them go. She has a very different approach now, not asking for money but letting me know the different needs she has in polite tones, causing me to force small monetary gifts on her. Funny how that works. I should also be grateful she has learned the art of diplomacy and negotiation, not subterfuge, as well.

I am grateful I had a dog, and I am grateful the dog finally died. She lived to a ripe old age and thoughtfully died on my birthday so that I won’t forget the date. She was a wonderful companion and other times a nuisance, but she taught me patience and endurance while she was here.

For the people I have met who have shared their stories with me, I have been humbled over and over again by their insight, their willingness to share, their honesty and integrity, even when their stories were difficult to discuss.
This has never been a “job” for me but a series of wonderful adventures, lived each day with the promise of more to come. Every day dawns with the promise of a surprise, albeit some surprises are better than others.

For the long-standing and sometimes long-suffering staff who work with me, I am grateful every day, not just at Thanksgiving. I can sometimes scarcely believe how fortunate I have been, and hopefully will continue to be.
At any rate, these are just a few of the things that come to mind for which I pray with a grateful heart. Now, how about you? Your list is probably longer than mine, and if it isn’t you need to look again because gratitude comes in many shapes and sizes, just right for you.