GINA MORTIMER STORR

As the United States celebrates Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, you will continue to hear the greeting “Happy Thanksgiving.”

The question is: what are you thankful for? And, how do you show gratitude?

As for me,

• I am thankful first for just being alive and healthy! I have more than one friend or relative who had health related challenges recently and although I am not 100 percent at the point of healthiness that I should be, my recent physical examination indicates that my health continues to improve over where I was at my last physical two years ago. I am showing my gratitude for the blessing of good health by being more committed to eating healthy and exercising – that does not include while I am in the Bahamas for the Christmas holiday

• I am also thankful for my family, beginning first with my wonderful husband Jim, who continues to be supportive and committed. His unconditional devotion makes every day worth getting out of bed for (except on Saturday’s of course when he gives me breakfast in bed and I curl up and watch movies all day I hope that Jim knows through my actions that I am equally committed and love him unconditionally as well.


Raeh. Ryan and Keva

• Next, I am thankful for my three children. Since they all live in the Bahamas, I am forced to love them at a distance. I am thankful though that they are each healthy and even with their struggles, are blessed and continue on there individual path to greatness! I show my gratitude for my own children by making myself available to other young adults who need support while they are away from their families attending college.
  

  My Mother with some of her grandchildren

• I am especially thankful for my mother, who at 75 continues to amaze me and, I live for the times that I get to hug her and elicit the sweetest laughter! I show my gratitude for my mother by following her example of giving, through the support Jim and I provide to a friend abroad.

• The rest of my immediate and extended family bring me so much joy and I am thankful that it is still a pleasure to be together, when I see the disintegration of so many families around me. I show my gratitude for my wonderful family by opening my home to others.

• Finally, I am thankful for the loyal friends
  

  Kathy and Al

  that I have collected over the years, some of whom I have reconnected with after 20 or 30 years! I show my gratitude for my loyal friends by being loyal myself and by lending my support in any way that I can.

How do you show your gratitude?

The words of one of my favorite hymns says it all:

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
And now, Let the weak say “I am strong”
Let the poor say “I am rich”
Because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks !

Happy Thanksgiving.