Thanksgiving is upon us and families are awaiting a joyous time to come together and give thanks for yet another blessed year. While Thanksgiving is a time to partake of sumptuous traditional foods such as turkey and dressing, candied yams, hot buttery rolls, and pumpkin or sweet potato pies, it is a time to reflect and give honor to the multitude of daily blessings bestowed upon us by an awesome magnificent God.

Businesses competing for your dollars have all but commercialized the holiday, but we must not allow them to take away the true significance of this holiday of acknowledging the many blessing in our lives. Take time out individually or as a group and humbly offer thanks for the unconditional love of a God who will never leave us. A God who internally encourages us to be the best we can be.

While the daily news often tells us of the doom and gloom of a world spiraling out of control with greed, apathy and self-indulgence, there is a story every once in a while reminding us of the goodness found in the human heart manifested by a Good Samaritan or humanitarian. It is my perception that the good outweighs the bad. While we may not always understand the reasons for everything happening about us or in our lives there is a message in the lessons of life that helps us grow as individuals. I can’t speak for everyone, but I am just thankful to be here enjoying the beauty of God’s paintbrush.

I can’t thank God enough for the blessings he has so abundantly bestowed upon me. My wife, Mary, and sons, Steven and Matthew, are precious gems that continued to blind me with their brilliance. I have immediate family and kin that are healthy and doing fine. I have my health, a rewarding job and a slew of genuinely loving friends whom one would die for. I can’t begin to understand why I am blessed so. Maybe because God knows I love him and it’s not for show. It is because of God’s love for me that I feel I have an obligation and responsibility to give back, and it is through giving back I can truly appreciate the meaning and beauty of life. I only wish there were others who are as appreciative of the blessing and gifts I see being rained down upon us every day by an omnipotent and loving God. I hope daily that I am worthy of his love.

I pray that God continues to use me as a conduit to speak for the downtrodden and disenfranchised, for those who feel they do not have a voice. Thank you God for not allowing me to acquiesce when I see pain and suffering brought about through injustices occurring all around me. Thank you God for allowing me to be one of your soldiers advocating for peace, justice and equality for all. I unapologetically acknowledge you as my Master and Benefactor and give all thanks and praise to you for everything good in my life.