Every year we sit around a big turkey with people whom we rarely see, save occasions such as this, watch football (or, in my case, the season’s first airing of It’s a Wonderful Life), socialize, listen to music and stuff ourselves to near illness.

Then there is that necessary but slightly uncomfortable part of the evening when everyone takes turns and says what they are thankful for.

There is tension, pressure to say the right thing, but I think most of all, people genuinely question, “What am I thankful for?”

A slumping economy? The prospect of war? A dead-end job? A broken car?

In a time when things seem so bad, why take a day out to remember the good?

Perhaps I just answered my own question.

When things are the worst, I still have things to be thankful for.

The Bible says, “Give thanks in all circumstances,” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I would like to point out it doesn’t say, “give thanks for all circumstances.”

I once, at a retreat, heard a woman say, “All I do is cook and clean. If I have to look at one more dirty dish, I’m going to scream.”

Later, I heard her repeat that statement and add, “But praise God that there is food to put on those dishes and six healthy kids to eat it.”

Even in the most seemingly horrible, chaotic, boring or hopeless situations, I believe there is always something to be thankful for.

So, enough with the generalizations. What do I have specifically to be thankful for? I’ll start at the beginning.

Life—the fact that I was ever born.

My family—my imperfect, slightly dysfunctional, but always there for me family.

My church—the people that I share my life with. They pray for me and care about me.

My country—because despite all its flaws, it is still the freest place in the world. I am blessed to live here.

Food—sometimes I don’t realize how lucky I am to have something to eat every, single day.

Flowers—their simplicity and beauty astounds me when I take the time to think about it.

A Job—even if I don’t like going.

Books—Fahrenheit 451 may never happen but I’m thankful that it hasn’t.

The Ocean—I know of little other places so accessible to me where I find myself consistently amazed at its power.

My friends—the fact that I made and have retained friends since kindergarten. That is special.

God’s Grace—because despite my misuse of and neglect to be thankful for the things listed above He still loves me.

I have lots to be thankful for. If there is breath in one’s lungs, I believe she does to. Let this Thanksgiving be a reminder of that.