“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”

–Willie Nelson, singer and, apparently, philosopher!

 

Just two days to Thanksgiving, so it’s time for the easiest post I write each year: What I’m thankful for. If you’ve been reading me for years, you’ll see some repeats. Honestly, some of these things I don’t think about often, but others I thank God for every day. Okay, here we go:

• U.S. citizenship. All of us won that lottery!

• Democracy. It survived … again.

• Peaceful transitions of power. Like our health, it’s not appreciated until we lose it.

• Family, and the love and support that come with it.

• Volunteers. Time is our limited resource, and some give of it unselfishly.

• Grandchildren. If you’re a grandparent, nothing else needs to be said.

• Our four freedoms.

• Church family.

• First responders.

• Teachers, nurses, and ministers. Underpaid, they labor on.

• College football.

• Books. The fact that some people in our world have no access to them is incomprehensible.

• Benevolent organizations. They heed Jesus’ call to care for “the least of these.”

• Houses of worship.

• Friends.

• The ability to agree to disagree.

• Grace. For me, the most beautiful word in the Bible.

• Second chances (see “Grace”).

• North Carolina’s trout streams.

• A good cup of hot coffee, especially if shared with a friend.

• Independent bookstores, where we can lose ourselves in volumes of well-constructed words.

• Readers. Especially those of you who slog through this blog faithfully every two weeks!

• Last, and actually least, Ocean Spray cranberry sauce … but it sure is good!

May you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Take a moment this year to reflect on, and thank God for, all of your blessings (just like Willie does!).

 

 

 

10 Comments

  1. Marilyn D November 26, 2024 at 12:16 pm - Reply

    Thank you Tim. So many of these I often forget to be truly thankful for. Happiest of Thanksgiving to you and yours!

  2. Bruce Scoggin November 26, 2024 at 2:00 pm - Reply

    Thanksgiving is something I celebrate each and every day. I have been blessed with good health, a loving family (and that includes four wonderful grandchildren), many opportunities to be involved in community and another day to be the change I wish to see.
    Happy Thanksgiving Tim!!!

  3. Chris jefferson November 26, 2024 at 6:06 pm - Reply

    Happy Thanksgiving from the mountains! You and Carolyn are a new item on our list of this year’s gratitudes!

    • teichenbrenner November 26, 2024 at 8:59 pm - Reply

      Well, aren’t you sweet, Chris. I should have said “Friends–old and new!” Happy Thanksgiving to you and Fred. Stay warm up there!

  4. Jan Rosser November 26, 2024 at 7:09 pm - Reply

    I’m thankful for prayer. It has gotten me through more than I can mention. Tim, your list and mine are about the same. I love cranberry sauce too, AND Willie Nelson. I’m thankful I have your thoughts to read on Tuesday. I haven’t disagreed on anything yet!!
    Happy Thanksgiving to you, Carolyn, Stephanie and Greta.

    • teichenbrenner November 26, 2024 at 8:59 pm - Reply

      The power of prayer, right? Happy Thanksgiving to you and Paul!

  5. Laurie Herlich November 28, 2024 at 7:45 pm - Reply

    I’ll add (especially after hurricane Helene): dry and intact homes, heat, electricity, hot and cold running water, communication (like phones, internet, etc.). Grateful to the Lord for all His good gifts, especially Jesus.

    • teichenbrenner December 8, 2024 at 7:46 pm - Reply

      Good list, Laurie–many things we often take for granted, including Jesus!

Leave A Comment

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”

–Willie Nelson, singer and, apparently, philosopher!

 

Just two days to Thanksgiving, so it’s time for the easiest post I write each year: What I’m thankful for. If you’ve been reading me for years, you’ll see some repeats. Honestly, some of these things I don’t think about often, but others I thank God for every day. Okay, here we go:

• U.S. citizenship. All of us won that lottery!

• Democracy. It survived … again.

• Peaceful transitions of power. Like our health, it’s not appreciated until we lose it.

• Family, and the love and support that come with it.

• Volunteers. Time is our limited resource, and some give of it unselfishly.

• Grandchildren. If you’re a grandparent, nothing else needs to be said.

• Our four freedoms.

• Church family.

• First responders.

• Teachers, nurses, and ministers. Underpaid, they labor on.

• College football.

• Books. The fact that some people in our world have no access to them is incomprehensible.

• Benevolent organizations. They heed Jesus’ call to care for “the least of these.”

• Houses of worship.

• Friends.

• The ability to agree to disagree.

• Grace. For me, the most beautiful word in the Bible.

• Second chances (see “Grace”).

• North Carolina’s trout streams.

• A good cup of hot coffee, especially if shared with a friend.

• Independent bookstores, where we can lose ourselves in volumes of well-constructed words.

• Readers. Especially those of you who slog through this blog faithfully every two weeks!

• Last, and actually least, Ocean Spray cranberry sauce … but it sure is good!

May you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Take a moment this year to reflect on, and thank God for, all of your blessings (just like Willie does!).

 

 

 

10 Comments

  1. Marilyn D November 26, 2024 at 12:16 pm - Reply

    Thank you Tim. So many of these I often forget to be truly thankful for. Happiest of Thanksgiving to you and yours!

  2. Bruce Scoggin November 26, 2024 at 2:00 pm - Reply

    Thanksgiving is something I celebrate each and every day. I have been blessed with good health, a loving family (and that includes four wonderful grandchildren), many opportunities to be involved in community and another day to be the change I wish to see.
    Happy Thanksgiving Tim!!!

  3. Chris jefferson November 26, 2024 at 6:06 pm - Reply

    Happy Thanksgiving from the mountains! You and Carolyn are a new item on our list of this year’s gratitudes!

    • teichenbrenner November 26, 2024 at 8:59 pm - Reply

      Well, aren’t you sweet, Chris. I should have said “Friends–old and new!” Happy Thanksgiving to you and Fred. Stay warm up there!

  4. Jan Rosser November 26, 2024 at 7:09 pm - Reply

    I’m thankful for prayer. It has gotten me through more than I can mention. Tim, your list and mine are about the same. I love cranberry sauce too, AND Willie Nelson. I’m thankful I have your thoughts to read on Tuesday. I haven’t disagreed on anything yet!!
    Happy Thanksgiving to you, Carolyn, Stephanie and Greta.

    • teichenbrenner November 26, 2024 at 8:59 pm - Reply

      The power of prayer, right? Happy Thanksgiving to you and Paul!

  5. Laurie Herlich November 28, 2024 at 7:45 pm - Reply

    I’ll add (especially after hurricane Helene): dry and intact homes, heat, electricity, hot and cold running water, communication (like phones, internet, etc.). Grateful to the Lord for all His good gifts, especially Jesus.

    • teichenbrenner December 8, 2024 at 7:46 pm - Reply

      Good list, Laurie–many things we often take for granted, including Jesus!

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