I'm starting by giving thanks for doing pretty well with "Complaint-Free Wednesday" on Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 26 . If I don't have to count the times I thought about complaining, I did amazingly well. Never mind that nearly everyone in the office took off early for the holiday, so I didn't really have anyone to complain to. Like the Dallas Cowboys—Arlington's Team—I'll take a "W" however I can get it.
This year, I'm particularly thankful for life. It's not been an easy year. And I was reminded of it on Wednesday, when one of the items on my to-do list caused me to work through the address book in my computer, name by name. I was stunned how many contacts I needed to delete because of death. The two that took my breath away were my sister, Martha, who died in the spring, and my good buddy David, who died this summer.
Frankly, I've been surprised by the arc of my grief. Martha was my greatest hero, and David was one of my funniest and most courageous friends. Their deaths left huge chasms. Not just for me, but for their beloved family and friends. But when I think of them, my mind and heart immediately turn to how blessed I have been for them to have been such significant parts of my life. The depths of my sorrow mirror the heights of the joy Martha and David bestowed.
And so now, I look at family and friends differently. I appreciate them more. Life is sweeter, because I take it much less for granted. They're sweeter, because I take them much less for granted.
That's why something as ordinary and exquisite and grand and stupefying as LIFE is No. 1 on my Thanksgiving list this year.
And while I count my blessings this weekend, I'll think of other things for which I'm grateful. My list will grow throughout the weekend, but in absolutely no order, here's my starter list (and you can start your own, if you haven't already):
• Music I can carry in my pocket through my phone. So many things to be grateful for in there, from God's creation of music, to musicians' genius, to inventors' imaginations.
• A great move by Lindsay, our oldest daughter, and Aaron, her husband, this year. Last Thanksgiving, they lived in Orlando, Fla., where he went to seminary, and this weekend, they're settling into a parsonage in Mexia, about 100 miles from our home.
• Blossoming love between Molly, our youngest daughter, and her fiance, David, who will be married next summer. They remind me of Joanna and me when we were engaged. Makes me thrilled.
Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays
• And Jo still thrills me, too. She's my best friend, confidant, teacher, pal, fellow-traveler and the love of my life. I'm so blessed I get to come home to her every day.
• Our extended family, which just seems to keep growing, with a new generation coming along now.
• Tremendous friends. I could start naming names, but I'm particularly sappy around Thanksgiving, so while I'd make myself cry, I'd just bore you. So, substitute the names of your best and most funny, loyal, caring friends, and you'll know how I feel.
• Topanga, the greatest dog in the world. Even if she relapses every now and then, she's the definition of extreme affection and unconditional (puppy) love.
• Iced tea and enchiladas.
• Chicken-fried steak.
• Pie. Any kind except pumpkin.
• Sunsets.
• Knees. Mine still let me run, which is such a joy.
• Books, even if I can't keep up.
• A great Sunday school class of young adults, whom Jo and I adore and from whom we learn week by week.
• Freedom, particularly to think and speak.
• Jesus, whose birth we particularly begin to anticipate this weekend.
I'm so blessed, this could be a never-ending blog. But I'll stop now. Whatever day you read this, Happy Thanksgiving.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.