What we should be thankful for

This archived article was written by: James Justice

What we should be thankful forIn this season of thanksgiving, I am writing a piece about what we should be thankful for. We, as citizens of the United States, have so much to be thankful for. This country is the greatest in the world, we have our faults, but we’re still the best.
We should be thankful for good health; I thank the lord every night for this. I know some of you are thinking, “But James, you have advanced MS.” Yes, true. But, today I’m able to walk, today I’m able to eat food and keep it down, today I’m able to think and have a clear mind. We all have things to deal with in our lives, some more severe than others, but we should all be thankful for our good health.
We should be thankful for our men and women in the military. I know that some are anti-military and, while I think you’re wrong, I respect your decision. Now, my ability to respectfully disagree with you comes via the sacrifice and protection that we’re offered through the military. Our military is the best trained in the world. It protects us and our interests, it serves us, and it lets people around the world know that they really can’t mess with the USA! I love them and can never thank them enough for all they do. So, we should all be thankful to the men and women in our armed forces.
We should be thankful for food to eat and potable water; to us these are things we don’t even think about. There are so many places in this world that don’t have these simple requirements. So many people around the world die because of disease-infected water or because of starvation/malnutrition. It shouldn’t be this way… but it is. We should all be thankful for these simple requirements that allow us to live until the next day; we live in a truly blessed land, it allows us to grow strong and healthy like no place on earth.
We should be thankful for family. It’s funny because a few years back, my family and I didn’t get along, not at all. I would bitch-n-moan about something and my family would set me straight on it; I hated them for it. I always thought they were wrong about everything, but they weren’t. I always thought they didn’t like me, when in fact they didn’t like me, they loved me instead.
To show everyone how amazing my family is, I have a story to tell. About six months ago, my living situation started to change; I could no longer do the work I was assigned, people were being rude and abusing me. So, at the age of 33, I decided to move back in with my parents. Now, my parents are poor, but good people. And while I’ve been living here, they have bent over backwards to help me in any way possible; only family has been there for me when things in my life have gotten really hard. At the time of my divorce, my family was there; at my diagnoses of MS, my family was there; when I decided to return to get my education, my family was there. I’m so thankful for my family and the amazing people they are.
This is my short list of the things I’m very thankful for. Of course, my list includes many other things, but for the scope of this article I know it fulfills. I want everyone to sit down and write the things you’re really thankful for, not things like cars, TVs, Playstations or clothing. But, things that help you. You will have incredible memories that will last a lifetime.
And do not forget to thank the people in your life that help you each and everyday of your daily life.