I’ve always loved Thanksgiving Day — it is one of those traditions that has meant a lot to me and my family throughout my 61 years on this planet.
One of the reasons for my warm feelings for this day are the fond memories from Thanksgivings in the past.
For me, the sights, sounds, smells and aromas come to mind. Plus, it harkens the memories of those who have shared this special day with me. I immediately think of Darla, Chase, Madison, my parents, grandparents, my brother and his family, aunts and uncles, my cousins, and dear friends as we gathered around our tables and enjoyed turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, as well as so many other wonderful dishes.
Along with the incredible food and fellowship, as a kid, we loved seeing Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, where Santa made his first appearance, along with some of our favorite floats hovering over downtown New York City (Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Scooby Doo, Batman, etc.)
One Thanksgiving Day that vividly stands out to me was Thanksgiving 1971. My Uncle Billy and Aunt Norma Jean, along with my cousins Janet and Kay, were in from Wichita, Kan. It was always fun when they arrived.
Uncle Billy was one of my heroes when I was growing up. He wanted to watch the Nebraska-Oklahoma football game so I decided to follow the action. Little did I know that it would end up being one of the legendary football games in the history of college football. Getting to watch that incredible game with Uncle Billy hooked me on football. I have been a football nut ever since that day.
Another interesting item about that Thanksgiving was the infamous DB Cooper hijacking that took place that evening in Portland, Ore. To this day, the DB Cooper hijacking remains one of the most infamous unsolved mysteries of our time.
As we approach this Thanksgiving, I am reminded of the scripture from Psalms, Psalm 107:1: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” I am also reminded of the quote from the author, Steve Maraboli: “If you want to find happiness, find gratitude.”
Gratitude. When I think of Thanksgiving, other than the incredible memories, the other word that comes to mind is gratitude.
When you look up gratitude in the dictionary, it is defined as thankfulness, a feeling of appreciation for of another’s kindness.
This kindness can be gifts, help, favors or another form of generosity to another person. The word comes from the Latin word gratus, which means “pleasing” or “thankful.” I also love the quote from Marcus Tullius Cicero: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”
I try to practice gratitude daily. In light of my wife Darla’s recent health scare, this Thanksgiving gives it even greater focus and appreciation. This Thanksgiving, I not only give thanks for the tangible blessings, but also for the intangible gifts — the gift of faith, the gift of hope and the gift of love.
As we approach Thanksgiving, I am also thankful and so grateful for:
• Family and the memories of those who are no longer with us
• Friends
• Coworkers
• Mentors
• God-given talents and abilities • The opportunity to live and work in this wonderful community • The beauty of the Ozarks As I have gotten older and the gray hair crowds out the few remaining strands of black hair on my head, I have also found the strong tie between having a mindset of gratitude and happiness. This goes back to the concept of shifting our focus from what we lack to what we actually have in our lives.
Simply put, I am happiest with I am practicing genuine gratitude.
I wish you a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.
I hope you get to enjoy and savor the traditions formed in the past and maybe you will start new traditions like I did in 1971 when I discovered my love of football.
Speaking of that Thanksgiving, I’m still fascinated about what really happened to DB Cooper. Happy Thanksgiving 2024!
Jon Horner is a local community bank president, published author, newspaper columnist, and motivational speaker. He can be reached at jonhorner77@gmail.com.
