It's Thanksgiving Day, and regardless of your religious preferences, it's a day for gratitude. To those who are part of one of the Abrahamic religious sects--Christians, Muslims, Jews--it is a day to be thankful to God (by whatever name you call Him) for the blessings you have enjoyed.
Even atheists and agnostics have a reasnn to be thankful--to those people who have been a welcome part of your life: parents & grandparents, children, friends...who, if by nothing more than their presence have made your life more enjoyable.
Many years ago, when I was working as a morning radio announcer on WLON Radio, I used to listen to a DJ from Hickory, on a station known then as Channel X, WXRC, as I drove to work in Lincolnton. The station played country music and every morning between 5 and 6 AM, that announcer (whose name I do not remember) would recite a poem by Red Foley. For younger readers (and older ones who may not remember) Red Foley was a country and gospel music singer. He is best known for the song "Peace in the Valley."
I may have forgotten that announcer's name, but I still remember very well his recitation of Foley's poem, which seems appropriate for sharing with our readers on Thanksgiving Day.
Life presents us with both joys and sorrows, with success and failures, with triumph and tragedy. Life is such that at times I laugh, at times I cry, and at times I curse; but surely most of us have many reasons to be thankful. Thank you for reading the LIncoln Herald and for taking time to read my comments on the day. I hope you have a good Thanksgiving.
“Today upon a bus, I saw A lovely maid with golden hair; I envied her - she seemed so gay - And oh, I wished I were so fair. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle, She had one foot and wore a crutch, But as she passed, a smile. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine; I have two feet - the world is mine.
And when I stopped to buy some sweets, The lad who served me had such charm; He seemed to radiate good cheer, His manner was so kind and warm. I said, "It's nice to deal with you, Such courtesy I seldom find." He turned and said, "Oh, thank you, sir!" And I saw that he was blind. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine; I have two eyes - the world is mine.
Then, when walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue. He stood and watched the others play; It seemed he knew not what to do, I stopped a moment, then I said: "Why don't you join the others, dear?" He looked ahead without a word, And then I knew; He could not hear. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine; I have two ears - the world is mine.
With feet to take me where I’d go, With eyes to see the sunset’s glow, With ears to hear what I should know: I’m blessed indeed, The world is mine; Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.”
