Gratitude+Thanks+Turkey?

On Thursday, a large portion of America sat down with family around a turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and other various foods you traditionally see on this holiday. Thanksgiving! This yearly holiday has been set aside to observe an act that should be done every day. Giving thanks! And a lot more thanks then "Rub-a-dub dub, thanks for the grub... Pass the turkey!" Even if we fail to recognize it, there are things we must truly be grateful for whether we think about them or not.

Sometimes we take things for granted and forego gratitude. Well, not even sometimes, at least not for me. One thing I take for granted is hearing my alarm clock go off and dreading stepping out into my cold bedroom. Other people in the world are dreading hearing not an alarm clock but a siren going off as danger lies right outside their unheated and impoverished home. America isn't everywhere, and America is often taken for granted by its own posterity. This gratitude is more than just saying "Thank goodness I'm here," but showing it by making 'here' a better place to be. We take for granted the 20 pound turkey now placed before us, a commodity that could easily feed an entire village more food than they've eaten in a month. You never know how dependent you are on something until it's taken from you and you are living through life without it.

Other times we lack gratitude because we believe it shows a form of weakness. "Pres. Bush may run this country, but I could run it better with my lofty Bachelor's form BYU-Idaho." Yet this world is starving through a drought of gratitude. We have a government in which the changes of leadership occurs (believe it or not) without bloodshed. We have the freedom to get rid of government leaders we believe aren't fulfilling their position and aren't opressed by tyrannic rule. We have the freedom to participate in any religion we wish without fear of being burned alive or bombed. We truly have a lot to be grateful for.

So... what do we do about it? Better question: what should we do about it? Hopefully pride has nothing to do with it. Being in a wealthy nation we have great potential to do good. The thankful heart would recognize our opportunities and be truly glad they live in America. The grateful heart would participate in humanitarian service projects, vote, help the Red Cross, and volunteer for the community. Even though I don't show it as well as I often ought to, I am grateful to live in a free America. I respect all those for laying down their lives and putting them on the line for the cause of defending freedom and bringing it to those who have not tasted of that fruit. God Bless America!