Column 429     November 17, 2023Freedom From Want by Norman Rockwell

This year’s Thanksgiving is evoking mixed feelings. The settings, sounds, and smells will certainly be traditional for many. But the emotional backdrop has never differed more than today—since the Revolutionary War.1

Current events are troubling Americans in the same way events triggered people leading up to the Revolution or even the Civil War. The Great Depression and the world wars were also very troubling times. During troubled times opinions around the Thanksgiving Day dinner are often divided. The stress caused by those divisions frequently overshadows the meaning of the day.2

Per normal, today’s events have supporters, detractors, and fence sitters. The emotions of the citizens who occupy the extreme left and right are stark. Their emotions run so high it’s a wonder there could be fence sitters. Consequently, as citizens throughout America celebrate Thanksgiving, many are asking what they can be thankful for. So I decided to list a few.With so many families being split these days, I thought I might offer a humorous way to be thankful that fits the differing sides of the isle. Of course, I’m thanking God which in many cases today is tantamount to being a fool. On the other hand I’m assuming some raving liberals would rather thank the government for their blessings. I guess they actually believe bureaucrats and politicians have their citizens’ welfare front and center in their minds and actions.

A Liberal’s Thanksgiving Blessing

Thank you our generous government for marginalizing conservative thoughts, conservative actions, Christian viewpoints, and MAGA-type nutcases. Dear government we thank you for allowing us to protest in favor of Hamas and the Palestinians who want to wipe the Jewish people off the face of the Earth. We are especially thankful for the substantial increase in government regulation, the mandates for electric vehicles, and other costly dictates reversing climate change for the betterment of the planet.

Dear government, thank you for protecting us from Trump with your multiple prosecutions involving his wicked capitalistic ways and his doubts regarding the integrity of the 2020 election. We also thank you for the kindness shown at the southern border where millions of immigrants from the world over can enter our country as they see fit so they too can celebrate our holidays with us on our dime. We thank thee for your openness in supporting the LGBT community and in educating our children in our modern, open-minded ways. We’re thankful that many states have laws stating “abortion is legal with no limits.”

We are especially grateful for the printing of dollars by the trillions to not only boost consumption, increase the size of government, and increase the pay to bureaucrats and politicians, but to fund the Ukrainians in protecting their border with Russia. And soon, we ask that you wipe out school debts that burden those unfortunate souls who decided on their own to borrow money to pay for an expensive education. We thank you government for recognizing that when we borrow money by the trillions—we are only borrowing it from ourselves.

Hopefully this satisfies the radical liberals at the table. Now the rest of us can actually thank God for the blessings He bestows upon us while He provides guidance in these troubled times. For an abundance of reasons for being thankful, not just at Thanksgiving but all year round, let’s turn to Billy Graham who asked: “Why should we be thankful?” Then he answered: “Because God has blessed us, and we should be thankful for each blessing.” Here’s his list of everyday blessings.
●    Thank God for the Material Blessings That He Gives You
●    Thank God for the People in Your Life
●    Thank God in the Midst of Trials and Even Persecution
●    Thank God Especially for His Salvation in Jesus Christ
●    Thank God for His Continued Presence and Power in Your Life3

My 2023 Thanksgiving Prayer

Heavenly Father’s we thank Thee for having blessed us with family and friends and the right to worship as we see fit. We thank Thee for our abundance of food, our shelter, and the other wonders of our age that bring us comfort through advancing technology and a free capitalistic society. We thank Thee for the medical personnel who stand firm and practice independently of the government’s heavy-handed agencies. We’re also thankful for those people who are fighting on our behalf in support of America’s Constitution and Bill of Rights. Most of all, we ask for Your guidance and help in facing the troubling times ahead. Amen

Happy Thanksgiving.

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

For additional reading:

1. Loyalists, Fence-sitters, and Patriots from U.S. History

2. High Stakes And A Simple Choice: "I'm 94 Years Old & Saddened By What I See Happening To America" by Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot, from RealClear Wire

3. How to Be Thankful in All Things by Billy Graham from Billy Graham Evangelistic Association