I have never liked putting my thoughts of thankfulness on paper, but with Thursday coming, I have to do so.

It's not that I'm thankful. I'm very thankful actually.

I have a good life.

I'm healthy, have a great, close knit family and friends who love me and I them.

But sometimes you don't think about other things to be thankful for because I know I take them for granted.

So this Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for things like times of rest and recreation.

For the ability to see a beautiful sunset or sunrise.

To hear the sound of my nephews and niece laughing. To smell all the good things that my mother cooks for us.

To feel the touch of my grandmother's hands when she hugs me.

I'm thankful for the people who shoot those great photos that adorn my various calendars.

Of places I'll likely never see in person, but can appreciate through their eyes.

I'm thankful for the ability to feel awe and the need to wonder.

I thank God for all the joy my friends brings me, and the challenges that others provide in relationships.

I'm thankful for my family.

For their love and support and the fact they are there through it all.

I'm thankful for the photo albums filled with pictures of loved ones who are no longer with us.

I'm thankful for the ability to look at those photos and recall happy moments from the walk of life.

I'm thankful for warm clothes I have and the roof over my head. I'm thankful that I don't have to stand by a barrel and burn scraps of wood to be warm.

I'm thankful for the food that I eat.

I'm thankful for having diabetes for it caused me to examine my life and make decisions that have only improved it.

I'm thankful that I live in a free, democratic nation.

One where we can disagree but tanks and soldiers don't wander the streets.

I'm thankful for the military for being who they are.

I'm thankful for my military friends who I miss with each passing day while they are deployed.

I'm thankful for the hard times that make me appreciate the good times that much more.

I'm thankful that in those hard times, all I needed to do was to hit my knees and know that God was with me.

I'm thankful that I am still repulsed by the evils of the world.

That things I see on television still cause me to look away and that I feel saddened by it all.

I'm thankful for my Advocate family.

And I'm thankful for you, our faithful readers.

You don't always agree with us, but you understand what we try to do.

You make my job worth it.

Finally, I'm reminded of a simple prayer by George Herbert that states: &uot;Thou has given so much to me. Give one thing more, a grateful heart, for Christ’s sake.&uot;

And I'm thankful to a friend at Rutgers University, who lets me vent, yet remains an attentive friend.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Jay Thomas is managing editor of the Greenville Advocate and can be reached at 383-9302, ext. 136 or via email at jay.thomas@greenvilleadvocate.com.