Today is Thanksgiving.

Everyone knows it is about more than eating turkey, watching football and the Thanksgiving Day parade. It is even about more than family although that is a big part of it.

Thanksgiving is about counting our blessings and as the name implies giving thanks for them. As our pastor pointed out, most of us have more blessings than we can possibly count. Sometimes when difficult things are happening to us it is hard to see all these blessings because we focus on the difficulties, but the blessings far outnumber those difficulties.

We just went through such a difficult period and are working our way out of it. However, there was a time in my life where I pretty much hit rock bottom. Comparing other low spots to that one gives me perspective. Our life will be a series of mountaintops and valleys and I can see we are just going through a valley.

So one of the big things we are thankful for this year is starting to come out of the valley. We look at all the health problems family and friends have and realize we have been extremely blessed there. We don't have wealth, but the Lord is seeing that our needs are met and that's all we really want.

We are thankful for family and friends, not only our blood family but our family at church as well. They are all so important to us and a big part of how we get through difficult times. We will be gathering around the table later today with some of those who are always there for us.

We will be gathering in spirit with family who can not be with us. Our family has a tradition of gathering with one side of the family for Thanksgiving and the other side for Christmas so the kids will be off doing that. We'll be thinking of them, one of our biggest blessings. We'll also be thinking of those who are no longer around that table, those who have gone on. We are blessed that we know where all of those family members are and that we will be seeing them again.

I'm just scratching the surface, the major things that occur to me. I know that there are literally thousands of smaller blessings when I stop and think further and I know it is that way for all of us. Of course I know that the biggest blessing of them all is the gift of our salvation, God giving His only son to us to redeem us from our sins. What a huge blessing and the reason I know I will be seeing those loved ones again.

The wonderful smells are starting to waft in from the kitchen. The beautiful floats are winding their way down the street with the huge balloons floating high above them and there will probably be football in our future soon. But before we enjoy that bountiful meal we will take time to give thanks . . . for the things I have talked about . . . and so much more.

I hope if you take time for even a quick recount of your blessings that you will quickly find they are indeed . . . more than you can count.