Are You Still Thankful?

Now that the turkey has been roasted...
Now that the dishes have been washed...
Now that the pie has been eaten for breakfast...
Now that the Redskins beat the Cowboys (yes, cause for gratitude at our house)...
Now that the first turkey sandwich of the holiday weekend has been consumed...

Are you still thankful?

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love that it has remained immune from the consumerism that has soured Christmas for so many people, which is why I regard Black Friday and all its creep (creepiness?) with apprehension. I love that Americans everywhere take one day to give thanks for all we have. Ever notice that when asked, most folks don't say, "I'm thankful for my iPad" or "I'm giving thanks for the new sweater I got on sale last week"?

How incredibly lucky we are.

 When you ask people what they are thankful for on the third Thursday of November, they talk about freedom, about family, about how God has graced them with plenty when so many are in want of basic necessities. The time the neighbors helped us after the big storm, the time the church found us shelter when the apartment burned, the way the hospital staff looked after our child who was perilously sick.

Three of my reasons to be thankful.

How about the shelter worker who read  your character and matched you with the perfect "best friend" (you know, the companion animal you just have to believe was always meant to be with you)? The teenager across town who took your lost dog to the vet to have its microchip read? The local pet shop owner who bothers to research which pet foods are healthiest - and only stocks those brands, with the knowledge to give advice about the best variety for your pet? How about the vet who let you stay in the examining room alone for as long as you needed after she peacefully sent your beloved pet out of its pain?

What are you thankful for, Toby? 
Pretty much everything!

Now that Santa has officially shooed out the turkey and rung in the Christmas season...

I'm going to try not to think only about all the stuff not bought not wrapped not baked not decorated not mailed...

I'm going to put a post-it on the mirror. It will be blank, except for a big question mark. And I'm going to aspire to carry Thanksgiving inside this Christmas season. When I see that post-it note, it will remind me to ask myself:

Are you still thankful?