As we approach Thanksgiving, it is fitting to consider all those things in our lives for which we are truly thankful.

In my case, I am thankful for family, my wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I really believe I am too young to have great-grandchildren, but they are here.

I am thankful for the health that I have: Not perfect, but I am not living in pain or distress. It is true that if you don’t have good health, not a whole lot of other things matter.

I am thankful to live in America and to be able to enjoy our standard of living.

I am also thankful for those who disagree with me politically. It makes me realize how intelligent I am and how biased they are!

I am thankful for the careers I have had and the income they have provided.

I am thankful that I know my mother and stepfather are in heaven.

I am thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross and that I accepted his grace and repented of my sins. In fact, asking forgiveness for sin is an all too frequent occurrence.

However, as one preacher of mine said, “It is best to always stay prayed up.”

I am blessed with the most wonderful cat and dog in the world. Some things are more valuable than gold, and I wouldn’t trade them for a million dollars.

I am thankful for the church that I attend. At Sandy Valley Baptist Church, everybody is somebody. The warmth and fellowship there are an introduction to that which we will each experience who has the blessed hope of eternity with Jesus Christ.

At Sandy Valley I have been blessed to serve in several capacities including Sunday School director. You know what they say about scrapping the bottom of the barrel?

Speaking of Sunday School, I recently had the experience of entering one classroom and seeing written on the white board the following, “Suppose you woke up this morning with only what you thanked God for yesterday.”

Makes you think doesn’t it?

There are any number of other things for which I am so very grateful. They include friends, the individual freedoms I enjoy, home, health, food in the pantry, water at the faucet, electric power, my excellent doctors, paved roads, defeat of the T-SPLOST, God’s still beautiful world that I enjoy, this column that I write and with it bore you.

Well, this is at least a partial list of things for which I am thankful. I hoped I haven’t neglected anything but at my age -- I told you I am a great-grandfather -- I find it easy to forget things.

Two other things for which to give thanks include the liberties you still have that the federal government hasn’t taken from you. Yet.

Also, if you are reading this and holding the newspaper in your hands while leaning back and enjoying a cup of coffee, be thankful for it. I know you could get your news on the Internet, but that is like having tofu turkey on Thanksgiving instead of the real thing. It does rightfully sound tasteless doesn’t it?

If you think about it tonight, why don’t you thank God for all his blessings to you? Don’t miss anything or else you may wake up missing something.

David Wittenberg resides in Kathleen. Contact him at dkw460@yahoo.com.