Giving Thanks

Today is Thanksgiving Day. I chose to spend the day quietly. I could have accepted one of several invitations to dinner but I decided to stay home and spend some time with my house and my dog, for which I am thankful. I was sorting through all of the hotel shampoos, soaps and lotions I had accumulated over the year of travelling and setting them aside to take to the church to be made available to the guests at the weekly dinners our church provides for the homeless. The toiletries are there for anyone to take. Feeding the body is essential. Providing personal items for the basic upkeep of the body feeds personal dignity. It all goes together. So, desiring to downsize the excess of stuff I have accumulated over the years, I emptied my personal stash of soaps and lotions purchased from some of the top fragrance stores I favor. And then I located extra toothbrushes and toothpaste, some rolls of floss (gratis of my dentist) and a bag of combs(?) and put them aside, as well. I will be fine without these things. If I wanted to, I could purchase any of these items again. And that thought made me pause and think. At any moment any one of us could be homeless. So, today I think of all the things I have been blessed with. My children and their families, my home, family, friends and my dog, Juneau. What a blessing! Again, thanks.