A chance to say thanks

We complain a lot, Lord.

You hear it daily. "Too hot." "Too cold." "Too much." "Too soon." "Too little." "Too late."

And, "Not enough." "Never enough."

We don't mean it. Not really. It's just that it's out of style to say thanks.

Embarrassing, you know. And kind of square.

That's why we look forward to Thanksgiving. It gives us a chance to shed the phony, fussy face we wear so many days of the year.

Oh, I know some of us don't come right out loud and say it even on Thanksgiving -- but we feel it inside.

Even -- maybe especially -- out here in middle America.

We love life, first of all.

We like a little girl's giggles and a little boy's mischievous grin.

We like to see lovers in love, workers at work, and players at play.

We like flowers ... and sun ... and Sundays with our family.

We like the dogs, the cats, the birds, the cattle, the horses, the sheep, the fish and the fowl.

We like the trees, too. And the lakes and the rivers.

Mom and Dad. And our grandparents.

Television's fun and the telephone's helpful.

We can blink and wink, tease and tattle. Gossip and second guess.

We can even complain a little.

Thanks, Lord.