Thanksgiving’s top ten

by Pastor Tom

Thanksgiving is this Thursday. It’s my favorite holiday, still kind of low key, and centered in family get-togethers. I’m a thankful person, having been blessed far beyond what I deserve. I’m thankful for all the standard things. At the top of the list is the love God has shown us, and then of course my wife and daughters, family and friends, freedom and opportunity, and then all the material comforts. But today I’m thinking of a number of things that really bless me, and here are ten of them.

1. Even though gasoline has jumped in price, I’m thankful that I no longer have to constantly worry about the gas gage and wonder if I’m going to get where I’m going.

2. I’m thankful for the motorcycle cop I pulled out in front of the other day, and that he didn’t get too upset about it and who didn’t give me a ticket, even though I had not yet put on my seatbelt.

3. I really appreciate businesses, organizations and individuals who adopt highways and clean up after those pathetic slobs who toss trash out their car windows.

4. I give a lot of thanks for the city of Jacksonville, and all the people who keep it running, from the mayor to the sheriff and everybody in-between.

5. I’m grateful for my evil cat, a creature I inherited unwillingly, but have come to love and appreciate.

6. I’m thankful for the staff of the Dunkin Donuts on Roosevelt Avenue because they are so polite and helpful, unlike the folks at that other coffee place who tend to treat you like a virus.

7. I’m always so thankful for people who let me over in traffic that I regret not having the opportunity to tell them so while driving.

8. I give thanks for waitresses who call me “Honey Pie” and act like they’re really happy about my appearance.

9. I never cease to be appreciative for the guys who pick up my garbage each week. What a hard, thankless job, and what a mess we’d all be in without them.

10. And I’m thankful that the release of O.J. Simpson’s utterly disgusting book and up-coming television interview were both cancelled. It gives me hope that there is still a limit to the bad taste we will tolerate.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and may you be too blessed to be stressed!