PHOTO OF THE DAY: WE ARE THANKFUL

A recent sunset lights up the western sky — a reminder of the beauty in the world. The following editorial appears in the Nov. 26 edition of The Courier and serves as a good reminder of what today is all about.

Being thankful this Thanksgiving

Our opinion: There are so many around us who offer service, care and grace, yet we take them for granted. So let’s stop to offer our thanks.

While Thanksgiving has been celebrated here in the United States in some form going all the way back to the George Washington administration, it wasn’t until the fall of 1941 that Congress passed a resolution declaring the fourth Thursday of November the federal observance of Thanksgiving Day — a resolution that was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Dec. 26, 1941.

In the almost 80 years since, it has become an American tradition to set the day aside for family, food and an opportunity to reflect on that which merits acknowledgment and thanks. If ever there was a feel-good national holiday, this is it.

This past year hasn’t, exactly, been “feel-good.” Bad news, challenges and conflict have spoiled the sparkle of a year that reads 2020, yet here we are, celebrating another holiday that asks us to pause and reflect on the blessings that abound.

And, make no mistake, they do.

We are thankful for doctors, nurses and other health care providers whose primary objective is to provide care for those in need. Our gratitude is particularly strong this Thanksgiving because of the challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic; these are frontline workers putting themselves at risk who are also dealing with the emotional scars associated with illness and death. We mustn’t forget that; we mustn’t take that for granted. And we give thanks.

We are thankful for our educators and others in our school systems who are working to provide a safe, welcoming, creative and effective environment for children of all ages. Our teachers are among the most important and influential people in the lives of our youth and provide invaluable care and instruction during impressionable years. This is true on a “normal” year; what they are forced to deal with because of the COVID-19 threat — teaching in a different kind of way and unsure of what the next days and weeks will bring — poses a profound challenge. We mustn’t forget that; we mustn’t take that for granted. And we give thanks.

We are thankful for our first responders — firefighters, EMTs and law enforcement officers — for always being there when needed, and at a moment’s notice, too. When fire breaks out, when there’s an accident or when help is needed in another way, there’s no question that we will be serviced by capable men and women trained to offer the necessary attention and care. This is exceptionally comforting; we mustn’t take that for granted. And we give thanks.

We are thankful for our grocery store workers, tellers at our banks, servers at our restaurants and clerks at our retail shops for doing important work. It’s not necessarily glamorous, but it’s a critical cog in the wheel of our daily lives. Their friendly smiles, warm “hellos” and small talk help make up the heartbeat of our small towns and make us feel good — maybe just a little better than we were before. These men and women are frequently taken for granted, but we mustn’t lose sight of their value. So we give thinks.

We are thankful for all of those associated with our primary industry — agriculture. This includes our farmers, of course, who work as hard as anybody among us planting and harvesting, tending livestock and machinery, and often dealing with adverse weather conditions. But it also includes those who work in ag-related fields like implements, feed dealerships and fertilizer plants. All of this provides both employment for dozens and service to those who are helping put food on tables. It is a value beyond measure but so often taken for granted. So we give thanks.

We are thankful to those who provide financial, legal and emotional aid — loan officers, insurance agents, attorneys and counselors. Life isn’t always easy, and when the tough part of living hits us, it’s comforting to know there are people there waiting to give us a hand. We really are all in this together and these services help us along the way; thanks be to those who are there to help.

We are thankful for our pastors who serve our congregations and offer regular thoughts, prayers and tender care to the men, women and children among us. Too often we forget that they need thoughts, prayers and tender care, too, because they are tasked with watching over one of the most vital parts of life — spiritual nourishment and well-being. So take a moment to recognize their important work too often taken for granted; take a moment to say thanks.

We are thankful for our leaders, lawmakers and governing bodies like city councils, school boards and county commissions who are tasked with making difficult but important decisions. These men and women are often on the receiving end of criticism because being all things to all people is impossible. Yet they show up, make the best decisions possible with the information they have, and serve with their communities’ best interest in mind. It’s a thankless job to which we say “thanks.”

To those who are friends, to those who are confidants, to those who are neighbors who care …

To teammates and classmates, playmates and soulmates …

To all who are striving to make the world a better place …

We are grateful. Happy Thanksgiving.

Jeremy Waltner | Editor & Publisher