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Why I Give Thanks
NMB, Florida November 16, 2001 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
WHY I GIVE THANKS ALL THROUGH THE YEAR
I think that Thanksgiving as a symbol only once a year to give thanks for
the bountiful goodness of our world is not enough. I glory in the beauty
and potential of this globe of ours as it trudges its way around the sun
every day and every year since time began. I don't understand it all, but
it is quite wonderful and one should think on it.
I think that the gathering of food and other items of need at this time and
sharing with others are good things. We tend to do it long distance.
Someone else collects and makes the decision as to who receives it. But it
makes us feel good to think of others at least once a year.
In times past Carol and I worked in a food kitchen and here in Florida in a
"Daily Bread" establishment. This is the kind of work that demands physical
exertion that last time weighed heavily on us. We have resorted to going out
and buying new goods rather than clearing out the food put aside for
possible disasters. We do this despite living on a limited income. We
record texts on tape for the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) in
the same spirit. We travel many miles in order to participate in this task.
We give thanks for our health that on balance is pretty good. We give
thanks that there are artificial knees that Carol can have implanted so her
pain will go away and she will walk once again head held high.
My one great disappointment is that we, as a people and as a nation, give
only in spurts - in time of disaster or in holiday seasons such as
Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. We blow up a great deal of wealth and
resources on the Fourth of July and forget at that warm time of the year
people are hungry all around us every day.
I would wish that we could have Thanksgiving and the other holidays every
day. My greeting to my friends is usually "Good Yom Tov" (pronounced Good
Yuntiv) and means a "Good Special Holiday" or holy day! This is because
every day is Yom Tov with me. Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
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