multitude to be thankful for

I started a Thanksgiving blog marathon last night but due to a multitude of excuses was unable to do as much as I wanted. In the ones that I was able to complete scattered across the web I hope that I was able to convey the feelings of thanks that I have.



We gripe and we complain about the way things are here. But would we really rather live somewhere else? If you read or watch the news seeing what goes on in other countries, would you really want to be there? Now some are nice, decent places- I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the places where murder is a fact of life (is that an oxymoron?) where garbage floats past you, the rivers and any available water contaminated. Where the pay is a few cent a day. Where you are told, exactly what you will do, what you will say, where (if anywhere) you can go and how. You are told even how many children you may have. Freedom is but a word, a wish and a dream to some people. What type home do you live in? Whether it is a mansion, a two-bedroom house in the burbs, an apartment of even a mobile home. It could be a grass hut sitting in the blazing sun hoping that the lions aren't hungry today.



We gripe and complain about health care. Yes, there are problems with the new bill, but again- what about the people out in third world countries that depend on the guy with the lion claw necklace, a few powders and a lot of chanting.



We have a volunteer military. Our people choose to go into service. They are not dragged from their beds or homes, not grabbed off the side of the road or path hauled away possibly never to be heard from again by family or loved ones. Our military voluntarily put their lives on the line for a country they love--faults and all. They put on that uniform and walk proudly. Yes, they are human and they make mistakes just like me, you and every other human being that walks this planet. Their mistakes are just broadcast to the world while our goofs are tucked away hopefully unseen or at least quickly forgotten.



We can walk, drive or catch a bus to a variety of grocery stores. There we can choose among produce, meats and other foods that are packaged and produced under careful guidelines. We won't go into the photos that circled the web not too long back about a store in China and how their wares are presented to the shoppers.



We have multitudes of restaurants and fast food places. We can eat as sensibly or not as we choose. We can eat right and preserve our health, or eat as gluttons and become obese. It is our choice.



We have a multitude of gyms and fitness areas available to preserve out health or get rid of the signs of our over indulging.



We have much to be thankful for. While our media has been known and proven to present things in biased ways, there is still truth available. Our access to the internet is not restricted. We can with a click find out anything we want to know and just how many versions are floating about.



We have the freedom of religion- while there are those that feel that religion and the practicing of one's faith is under attack we do still have the freedom to worship as we wish. We can attend the church of our choice. We can sing and praise freely without fear of attack. We need not hide or lock the doors for protection. In other countries Christians are killed just because they are Christians. People that are not of the chosen faith or belief of the ruling people have been known to be killed just because they believe differently. We have the freedom to talk to others, share what we believe and why. We also have the freedom to be extremist and wrong. To interpret the words in the way we wish to and use that to attack others or their way of life. Right is right- wrong is wrong- freedom is freedom. Sadly freedom does not mean one is blessed with common sense and compassion.



We have much to be thankful for. Our country is beautiful, from the cities rising up to the wilderness areas protected from encroaching civilization. We have our freedoms, we have our life. We are blessed and again.. we have much to be thankful for.

















































Blessed, a collection of God given inspirational poetry by Rebecca Stepp Revels is available now @

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The Legend of Dragon's Doom:a Young Warrior's vow, by RS Revels is available @

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