A Blessed And Happy Thanksgiving

As a member of one of America's oldest families I can think of so much to be thankful for in this greatest nation of all. My family arrived in what is now the Boston area in 1623, the same year as the first Thanksgiving of the Pilgrims and has flourished since. I am thankful to be a son of America, I am thankful of the freedom and liberty my forefathers sought and the hardships they had to endure to see those goals. I am thankful for the Uncles and Grandfathers that fought to keep this country free. Though thousands of miles from my direct family I am thankful to have friends to gather with and give thanks, I am thankful that I can give thanks to God without fear.
We enter into the Holiday season again at war with those that want to destroy us from the islamo-fascists to the secular bigots that seek to purge the meaning of this season from history itself. The hectic schedules, crowded airports, traffic jams, irritating inlaws, longlines at the grocer and never enough time add to the confusion of what it all means and erodes the deep gratitude we should all share to live in a country so blessed.
Michelle Malkin has an excellent piece today that will hopefully place things in perspective for those many folks running around in a hectic scramble to get everything just so for the big feast tommorrow. Read her article and when the pressure seems too much, stop and reconsider, before you cuss out the idiot that just cut you off or let the ingrate relative complaining that the turkey is a little dry get to you.

Stop and think of the Johnson family. Army Spc. John Austin Johnson of El Paso, Texas, is recovering from massive head wounds sustained in an IED attack. Johnson is a member of Fort Bliss’ 4-1 Cavalry. He had survived five previous bombing incidents. That is not all.

Earlier this month, Johnson and his wife, Mona Lisa, buried their 9-year-old son, Tyler Anthony Johnson. The little boy had been on life support for several weeks after sustaining critical injuries in a horrible car accident. He was on his way with his family to see his dad in recuperation at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. He never made it. The family car rolled over several times after being hit by powerful blasts of wind. Tyler was laid to rest at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Benton, Ark. That is not all.

The Johnsons had two other children. Ashley Mishelle was 5 years old. Logan Wesley was 2. They were killed instantly in the same car crash that claimed their older brother’s life.

To lose one child is devastating enough. To lose three? While recovering from traumatic war injuries? And to bury three little angels just weeks before Thanksgiving? No parent can read of suffering like that of the Johnsons and indulge the petty, selfish complaints of holiday gripers and road-ragers. The complainers featured on the nightly news this week wallowing in self-pity over a few hours’ delay on the road or in the air need to get a grip, get over themselves and get some perspective.