Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, and often in the middle of the propaganda and anticipation of “black Friday,” we have a tendency to forget about the simple things that we should and need to be thankful for. Turkey and pies spread on the table, family and friends around you, traveling “home” and bringing the newest girlfriend or boyfriend home for the holidays is tradition in America. We eat until our stomachs are about to burst, laugh until we are about to cry and go out as if we are children again with no obligations. Are we really thankful as a country though?

Based on US Census Bureau data, 35.9 million people live below the poverty line in America including 12.9 million children. Americans waste almost 100 billion pounds of food each year. In 2004 the number of requests for emergency food assistance increased by an average of 14 percent based on a 27 city study conducted by the United States Conference of Mayors. The study also noted that 20 percent of requests for emergency food assistance were unmet in the same year. According to the Bread for the World Institute, 3.5 percent of U.S. households experience hunger. Some of these individuals skip meals or eat too little, sometimes going without food for a whole day. In addition, 9.6 million people, including 3 million children, live in these homes. I can go on and on with statistics about poverty and hunger in America in contrast to the amount of food that we waste on a daily basis. Are we thankful?

I raise this question because I want all Americans to think, while they are eating with their families tomorrow, about the numerous people in this country of abundance that will go without at the same moment. I want Americans to think about how blessed they are to be able to have meals, and I want Americans to think about reaching a hand out to help another person that normally would not be able to have a meal on Thanksgiving to eat good for a day. If you are thankful, show how much by taking the abundance the Creator has given you and sharing it. Reach out a hand to someone in need. In my opinion, thankfulness is not about just what you have…it is about what you have to share!

I would like to wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving!