From Where I Sit

By Ardie Arvidson

Published: November 26, 2008

The final chapter in my wedding saga was written Saturday as family and close friends watched my last-born, my son, and last child to marry say his wedding vows.

It was a chilly, make that bitter cold, evening but the church had a warm, candlelit glow about it. The bride was beautiful, the groom handsome. And I was so proud to have both of my children happily married.

As Thanksgiving arrives tomorrow, I have much to be thankful for this year. By the time some of you read this, I imagine it will have already come and gone.

Do you remember the alphabet books you read as a child that read A is for Apple; B is for Ball? I’m modifying that a little for today’s column.
The letter F should stand for Thanksgiving because it is a day for giving thanks for family, friends, fun, food, fellowship, freedom, fruitful bounties and football.

Thanksgiving brings out the best in most families. From the oldest to the youngest members, families gather around tables laden with food where they linger in conversation, sometimes for hours.
Spirited conversations about soon-to-be-watched football games are joined by fondly remembered past events. The older family members like to reflect upon all the things the younger ones should be thankful for that they didn’t have growing up, and the things they truly are grateful for. During difficult times, it might feel like we are stepping in quick sand with no one to pull us out, but we truly do have much to be thankful for, starting with the fact that we are a free nation, one able to choose a president by casting a vote. If one ever doubted the importance of one single vote, one only has to look at the mayor’s election in Florence. One candidate who ran for mayor and won could have easily been out of the race, except for a single vote cast his way, which made him his party’s choice.

It’s amazing how far we have come as a nation in our relatively short history, as compared to the age of other nations.

It may seem bleak for many of us financially this year, but we are far better off than the majority of people in some areas of the world.
Understandably, food kitchens and food banks are struggling to keep up with the demands.

If each of us purchased just one extra canned good for the Food Bank or the Soup Kitchen while doing our holiday shopping, there would be less hunger here at home.

As you place your feet under the table this Thanksgiving, give thanks for all that you have; don’t dwell on what you don’t have.
I will be thankful that my children have given me much joy watching them grow up.

From where I sit, for everything there is a season, and this is the season to be thankful.