Whether Thanksgiving serves as a day for a family meal, the start of your holiday shopping strategy, the last day before your home is festooned in holiday decorations or just a day off to watch annual parades and football games, there is something magical about the day.

It feels set apart because of its emphasis on celebrating that for which we are thankful, without the pressure of helping Santa do his job for everyone on our personal lists.

It may not be gratitude for a “harvest” in the traditional sense, but for many of us it is important to have the opportunity to express gratitude for having been sustained another year, perhaps even for being able to live comfortably and without much worry.

Even empty spots around the table give us the chance to be grateful for having had such wonderful people in our lives that their absence is felt so strongly. Sometimes on days like Thanksgiving, we find their presence remains in little details we are thankful to notice.

Often, we are grateful for the few family members who show off their culinary prowess to a degree that makes us thankful, too, for elastic waistbands. We’re thankful for whoever figured out how to make pumpkin pie and pair it with whipped cream.

Political joys or disappointments aside, we can be grateful we live in communities where — when push comes to shove — we lift up one another. We lend a hand. If warm clothing, toys, food or other support is needed this season, rest assured there are those working to provide.

Plenty of us can be thankful we are among those able to help.

Don’t let the travel and commotion of the day obscure how wonderful it is to live in a place where, as George Washington put it in 1789, “we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks — for His kind care and protection of the People of this Country …”

Our need to give thanks is as urgent now as it was 235 years ago. Take advantage of the day to do so.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

l

“There is no excess in the world so commendable as

excessive gratitude.”

• Jean de la Bruyere,

French philosopher

l

“The most important thing in the world is family and love.”

— John Wooden,

basketball coach

editorial@vindy.com