Sweet and Sassy: Giving thanks all year long

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Thanksgiving. It’s not just about that bountiful feast, watching a football game, going hunting, spending time with family and friends or watching a parade; it’s about praising God and for all He has given us.

Actually, we should show gratitude toward that Higher Power daily, via prayer.

We should let Him know that we are grateful for the blessings we have received and possibly even the trials we are put through, because we learn from them.

The first Thanksgiving, we are reminded, was neither a feast nor a holiday, but a simple gathering. Following the Mayflower’s arrival at Plymouth Rock on Dec. 11, 1620, the Pilgrims suffered the lost of 46 of their original 102 colonists. With the help of 91 Indians, the remaining Pilgrims survived the bitter winter and yielded a bountiful harvest in 1621. In celebration, a traditional English harvest festival, lasting three days brought the Pilgrims and natives to unite in a “thanksgiving” observance. This “thanksgiving” meal would not be celebrated again until June 1676.

One hundred years later, in October 1777, all 13 colonies participated in a one-time “thanksgiving” celebration which commemorated the patriotic victory over the British at Saratoga. It would take a span of more than 150 more years to establish Thanksgiving as it is now celebrated. George Washington proclaimed it a national holiday in 1789, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November in 1863, and Congress sanctioned it as a legal holiday in 1941.

We should be happy that we, so far, are free to celebrate this holiday and many others in this great land of ours. Prayers this year, I would say, should reflect on the condition of not only this nation but the entire world.

One prayer I saw posted the other day on Facebook stated: “Dear God, I bow my head and ask, if it is your will, please save this land from those who seek to destroy it. Amen.” I would recommend doing that.

What am I thankful for? The privilege to worship how and where we want, the other freedoms that we have thus far enjoyed, good health, great family and friends and my career. I am also grateful I had the opportunity to live in a time that I did. Sometimes, it’s scary, especially when various nations are in turmoil, but most things about life are beautiful.

If it were me, I would strive for world peace and the cure for all serious illnesses, because life’s just too short. With those two things happening, the world would most certainly be a more beautiful place.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

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Don’t forget:

• Upcoming events at the Ansonia American Legion: Fish fry on Dec. 4 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. and a steak fry from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 12.

• The Leyden Guenther Benefit will be held Dec. 4 from 4 p.m. to midnight at the old American Legion behind 318 Pearl St. in Union City, Indiana. The all-ages event and dinner will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Pre-sale dinner tickets are available until Nov. 13 at a cost of $10 for couples, $6 for individuals, $3 for children 6 to 12 years of age and free for those 5 and under. The meal will be a pulled pork dinner with choice of green beans or baked beans, coleslaw, roll and non-alcoholic beverage. A deejay will be performing from 8 to 11:30 p.m. for the adult crowd. There will also be raffle baskets and auctions as well as a t-shirt sale at $10 each.

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Happy birthday:

• Nov. 25 to Karen Burkett, Charles Adams and Dustin Schmidt.

• Nov. 26 to Zhwanda Riffell, Bill Edwards, Sandy Holsapple Bohman, Brad Freeman, Susan Hines Robinson, Tim Harless and Leota North.

• Nov. 27 to Ronda Helmer Baker, Becky Clifton, Harvey Hinshaw, Rick Clear, Mindy Ward, Mike Appleman II and Susan Bowman.

• Nov. 28 to Dan Schipfer, Joyce Baker, Lara Brunner and Jadilyn Snyder (18).

• Nov. 29 to Phil Stutz, Jeff Shook, Jeff Lawson, Natalie Pepple and Waldo Jenkinson.

• Nov. 30 to Theresa Brewer-Wilson, Tess Osborne, Beth Oswalt Cain, Bill Klipstine, Janese Spencer, Linda Lore, Dewey Ward, Mindy Steed, Joann Emrick, Caleb Thwaits and Kathy Wilker.

• Dec. 1 to Daisy Brim, Tammy Shook (50), Kim Dohme, Neil Schmidt and Karen Crowell.

• Dec. 2 to Jeremy Litten, Noe Hernandez and Bev Billenstein Stump.

Happy belated birthday to Shila Magoto on Nov. 19.

Happy anniversary to: Ed and Kay Curry and Jerry and Elaine Singer (50), all on Nov. 27; Judy and Terry Pepple and Miriam and Ron Poling on Nov. 29; Bev and Ron Stump and Don and Carolyn Waymire, all on Nov. 30; and Mike and Elaine Stump on Dec. 1.

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Don’t forget to pray for: Stacy Dorko, Tim Ridenour, Phil Clark, Sonny Hunt, Kenny Chancy, Jim Marker, Roger McEowen, Terry Longfellow, Bill Drew, Don and Linda Myers, Nina McDaniel, Rick Moody, John Clack, Rusty Wilson, Lee Moody (our father), Linda Johnston, Ron Kreitzer, Pappy Harshman, Gerald Rhoades, Harold Rismiller, Rick Jones, Albert Duncan, Delores Duncan, Ansonia Police Chief Frank Shapiro, Randy Heck, John Klipstine, Greg Moody, Elsie Svajda, Dave Sherman, Sue Chitty, Phil Chilcoat, Christine Pipenger, Paul Barton, Terry Ungericht, Gracyn Blackburn, Jim Moody, Lowell Arnold, Joe and Wanda Bailey, Robert Codling, Kohen Thwaits, J.C. and D’Arleen Waymire, Deanna Jones, William DeBord, Dave Starline, Bob Hiestand Jr., Kathy and Tom Hamilton, Joanne Sharp, Larry Bemis, Ivan Miller, Cindy Elson, Cary Van De Grift, Dina Dancer Morris, Teresa Mayo Amspaugh, Jim Crotcher, Tina Kiser Deaton, Alvera Schmitz, Jerrod Pratt, Vicky Henderson, Julia Frey, Tonia Thompson, Fred Monnin, Thelma Shade, Bob Coppock, Stephen “Brownie” Brown.

Also, Nate Epperson, Brad Pipenger, Faye Schlecty, Michelle Sparks Reed, Bill Beasley, Steve Cunningham, Kody Ketring, Bob and Sandy Finkbine, Kevin Dickey, Joe Martin, Tracy Bailey, Brenda Grimes, Margaret “Peg” Bundy, Kevin Hemmerich, Ray Dickey Jr., Penny Starns, Tim Heck, Vanna (Hannam) Abbott, Suzy Heck Schilling, Addie Henderson, Barb Morrow Zimmerman, Samantha Smith, Shannon Peters Hall, Todd Walls, Ron Kramer, Melissa “Missy” Helmer, Susie Gress of Nebraska, Dana Holzapfel, Kara Didier, Carla Welch, Bill Schuette and to all those others who suffer from the many debilitating diseases. And, God bless all of our military people serving and protecting this nation.

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Jamie and I send our condolences to the families of: Doug Thornhill, Rich Schuh, Iola Stanze, George Oswalt, Marybel Weaver, Agnes (Harter) Sears, Joe Barton and Marilyn Irelan.

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Think about it: “The three C’s of life: Choices. Chances. Changes. You must make a Choice to take a Chance or your life will never Change.” — Unknown

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By Linda Moody

Linda Moody is a staff writer for The Daily Advocate. Her column appears every Sunday. She can be reached at [email protected].

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