Let’s Be Thankful This Thanksgiving

Story by MyJa Miller.

DECEMBER 8, 2014: It’s that time of the year again when everyone seems to get all worked up over the holiday season. Yeah, I said it! Christmas is right around the corner knocking at our front doors. It seems just yesterday we were enjoying the sun and bringing our summer vacations to a close.  Every year we say the same old thing, “I wasn’t prepared, it’s just too soon, and I don’t have anything to give!” It’s too easy to complain that no one really celebrates Thanksgiving anymore.

With all the glitter and lights around the city and the stores filled with tree decorations and musical tunes filling our ears, it seems like we don’t take the time to be thankful for what we have right in front of us. Just to name a few: family, the special friends we have, our health and strength, a nice place to live, a free education, our teachers and our freedom.

No matter what we are watching on television, the commercials continue to discuss the meaning of the season as Black Friday advertisements to spend big bucks on things we hardly ever need.

Most people spend hours upon hours putting together their Christmas wish lists, yet they spend at the most a couple of minutes thinking about why they’re grateful.  Isn’t that crazy! How can we spend so much time wondering about what we are going to get someone, and only a few minutes thinking about all the reasons we should be grateful. It’s common for most to take things for granted.

We’re always looking for the latest high tech gadget to show off, or the newest fashion trends to splurge on and try to look as close to the celebrities as possible. However, there have been so many tragedies that have taken place over the past few months that leads one to think about how grateful we are to be living healthy and productive lives. For example, the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, a prominent preacher Myles Munroe killed in small plane crash in the Bahamas, celebrity Joan Rivers dies from surgical complications, and comedian Robin Williams suffers from depression and commits suicide.

With everything that is happening daily in the news from sports, weather, politics, to local breaking news reports, I’d rather focus on why I’m grateful during this time of the year.

It hasn’t been a perfect year. We’ve all had our share of problems at some point in time, but let’s not forget to head into this season without thinking of the good blessings we have.

So, as we head into the holiday season, or as some might call it, “shopping season”, try to remember those who are less fortunate than you, and remember all the reasons why you are grateful. 

Myja Miller is an 8th grade scholar at Friendship Woodridge Academy.