I can hardly believe it is Thanksgiving and I’m sure in a few short weeks I’ll be writing the same about Christmas and New Years.
2009 has unquestionably been a challenging one throughout our country due to the housing market and economy in general. Ten percent unemployment doesn’t even begin to touch the surface when you consider this number only reflects the people who had jobs and lost them, but not those wanting to enter the workforce, return to it, or who weren’t eligible for unemployment. The long and short, the job market is tough and too many people I know have been impacted by it.
I have had friends have to deal with a range of extremely difficult life issues including the loss of a young child and the diagnosis of life-threatening illness to a loved one. We expect day to day issues to come up that test us, but these challenges were compound this year due to the economy.
And despite or more accurately because of these things, I am more thankful this year for the things I have in my life, my wife, children, family, friends, and community. I am thankful for the new friends I have made this year, old friends I have reconnected with (thanks Facebook;-), and those who are always there for me.
In times of challenge I’m thankful for faith, hope, and optimism.
I’m awed by the family who turns the loss of their young daughter into a foundation that brings hope and a bit of relief to those facing hard and trying times (the Hailey Mayz Foundation: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142648070066 and http://haileyshalo.blogspot.com/).
I’m proud of the number of people who volunteer within the community of Nazareth be it through church, youth leagues, service organizations, scouts, on government commissions or elected office, in our schools, and the list goes on and on. So many people give of themselves throughout the year, mostly going unnoticed. The food bank now has its own home and helps 200 families, up from 30 ten years ago. This couldn’t happen without everyone helping and contributing in the way that works best for them.
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for continuing to follow, support, and submit stories and ideas for NewsOverCoffee – its my small contribution to making Nazareth an even better community!
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