As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I have been reflecting on the past year or two, as I am sure many of you are. We have all been through so much and continue to face challenges every single day as a result of the storm we have been in.

But I think we also have a lot to be thankful for and my prayer for this season is that you will have a grateful heart as we gather for food, family, and fellowship.

I want to share with you some of the things that I am thankful for. But first, a story...

We lost my mother in a tragic car crash around Christmastime of 1994. In an instant, life changed. My dad’s partner of 34 years was suddenly gone. He survived the wreck, but it was a long road to recovery to heal the wounds to his body and heart.

My dad’s body eventually healed. And not long after, his heart would too.

Over a backyard fence, he met Jane. He was mowing the grass and she brought him a glass of iced tea. It wasn’t long before those backyard conversations turned into date nights filled with laughter and companionship. They enjoyed being together. Jane had lost her husband not long before my mom passed away. Their lives intersected in a single moment with a smile and sweet tea that later turned into a second chance for love.

They married in 1996. My dad was happy and the first five years of their marriage were special. They traveled, learned how to dance, and life was good.

Until it wasn’t.

Jane was diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis was not good. She prepared herself for battle. My dad was by her side every minute with humor, encouragement, and love. He encouraged her and she encouraged him. They were indeed a dynamic duo.

They went to war. And won. The cancer was gone.

For a while.

Cancer would return three more times.

And she survived three more times.

One day, in the midst of her battle, I asked her a question. “How can you be so positive and so optimistic when you are facing this monster?” She grinned and pointed at my dad, “Because I get to wake up next to that hunk of burning love every day.”

There are some things you cannot unhear.

She added this: “Son, I am grateful for every day with your dad. I am thankful that I can see the sunrise, go for walks, and spend time with the grandkids. I am truly blessed.”

What an amazing perspective.

Seventeen years after a dark diagnosis she is cancer-free. And I believe one of the reasons why is she lives each and every moment with gratitude.

Today she lives with Parkinson’s disease and spent her 81st birthday in the hospital following a stroke.

And still not one complaint. Not one “poor me”. She just keeps moving forward with faith, gratitude, and the spirit of a warrior. Oh, how much we can learn from this hero.

I am thankful for Jane and my dad who set the standard for living life to its fullest and never quitting even when it’s hard.

I’d like to leave you with a few things that are on my heart this Thanksgiving season that I am grateful for…

1.    Connections: People flow in and out of our lives. People who love us, challenge us, and leave us better than they found us. We often take them for granted and think they will always be there. Unfortunately, they won’t. One day they will be gone. It is important to tell them how much you appreciate them. And not just during the holidays. Remind them often of what they mean to you.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach says, “You are no hero if the people who mean the most to you think the least of you.”

2.    Challenges: Steel is forged in the fire, and we are too. The challenges that come our way in business and in life can either make us stronger or destroy us completely. Be grateful for the struggle. Be thankful for the fight. And know that you have the capacity to not only conquer the challenge but to use it as a catalyst for the next great chapter in your life.

3.    Choices: We are so fortunate to be able to choose our attitudes, our actions, and ultimately our results every single day. Every moment of our life we are in the blessed position to decide how we will live, how we show up, the people we surround ourselves with, and the actions we take. Whether we’re in traffic, the grocery store, or on a Zoom call, we choose how we respond to what happens around us. What happens around us is out of our control. But what happens inside of us and how we respond is always our choice.

Friends, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Have a second helping, laugh loud and often and be grateful for those who make your life better.