Nothing is More Honorable than a Thankful Heart

First I'd like to thank Seneca, Roman philosopher, for those words with which I titled this post.  My, how true those words are.

I am witing this post now because I will be spending my time this week and during Thanksgiving taking care of my stepdad, who is very ill and needs surgery.  Getting the news about that, I couldn't help but pause a bit.  I am such a lucky person, with so much to be thankful for. 

When I came into work this morning, I was reminded over and over again of what we have to be thankful for.  I uploaded pictures on the Robbinsdale Area Schools' Facebook page at www.facebook.com/robbinsdaleareaschools about a fourth grade classroom at Zachary Lane whose children were called to service after reading a story about children who made a difference in others' lives.  They are having a teddy bear drive that will benefit children who have lost their homes and possessions in fires and natural disasters.  I interviewed two girls about that project, and it made my heart sing to hear how passionate they were about the entire project.  I'm ready to upload a photo album to Facebook about volunteers at Honeywell who spend their lunch hour every Thursday at Forest Elementary, reading to first graders while the children eat their lunch.  The food service staff at Forest provide bag lunches for the children on those days.  How fantastic is that?! (ah, the days when I was read to - I loved that so much...!)  I was also informed about a blood drive taking place at Robbinsdale Cooper High School, organized by the Cooper National Honor Society and helped out by Erin Henderson of the Minnesota Vikings.  I see people giving of themselves, helping others, with no thought about what's in it for them.  It's just giving.  (It's on November 29th at the Cooper gym.  Please consider a donation of blood on that day from 8am - 1pm.)

Thanksgiving is, I believe, a holiday that sometimes gets lost in the crowd.  We're caught up in football games, Black Friday, and holiday commercials that seem to creep their way into our lives earlier and earlier each year.  I see holiday yard decorations already (and I secretly love them, I have to admit!)   Every year at this time, however,  I cannot help but remember the first Thanksgiving (which, contrary to popular belief, did not take place on the fourth Thursday of November.  You have Abraham Lincoln to thank for that.).  It was a celebration of the true, selfless giving of time, effort and skill, with cultures coming together if only for a short time.  Oh, how I wish it could have lasted.

John F. Kennedy once wrote, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."  I try to remember that every day.  And when I see people living that sentiment - giving when no receiving is expected - it gives me hope in the world, and my heart is truly thankful.