It’s the one and maybe only day of the year when the “Big Guy” is brought out for all the good and happiness in our lives.  Personally, I’m grateful to God for being born white, birthed by strong parents, living in a simple city, smart, educated and successful beyond my dreams.

I jest of course because God had nothing to do with any of those things.  But we yearly attribute to God all the good and of all the bad we asked God to take it away, as though God authorized both to flying angels with their traveling instructions.  (Cue the Wicked Witch and her flying monkeys.)

The rest of our year is spent taking the good for granted and hoping the bad is minimal or nothing at all.  Looking back, however, did not the difficult or “bad” episodes bring us closer to ourselves, family, dependence and then perhaps leaning on God’s assistance?

What kind of assistance can God provide since he really didn’t really send angels down upon us?  It’s always been simple but we seem to complicate the simple whenever we get the chance.  It’s the virtues that begin and end with God and slowly simmer in our lives, especially during trying times until they burn themselves into us.

They are the gifts of the Holy Spirit – wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord (wonder).  The internet calls it “wonder” but a little fear won’t kill you.  God’s provided us with these seven enduring gifts, a delicious Turkey dinner and even a wishbone for our fanciful fantasy about who God is and who we are in relation to God.

Happy Thanksgiving.