AS I SEE IT
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
This Thursday, we continue to share a tradition of giving thanks that dates back to 1621 as we observe Thanksgiving. We all know the story behind why we, in America, celebrate Thanksgiving. History tells of how the Pilgrims beat the odds by making it across the ocean to the New World, which would one day become the United States of America. But they also carved out their new homes in the wilderness, and then through the generosity and kindness of their Indian neighbors, they were able to learn to raise crops and begin a new life. Those Pilgrims had every reason to be thankful for their very existence. And each year, after harvest, they gave “thanks” for the bounties that they had received.
We have come a long way in the years since the Pilgrims observed their first Thanksgiving. But we too have many things in the United States to be thankful for.
First and foremost, we should be thankful for our family and friends that we share our lives with.
And, in spite of its faults, we should also be thankful that we are living in the greatest country in the world. We need to pause and think about all of the freedoms and opportunities that we all have and be thankful for them. There are millions of people in the world that will never experience a fraction of what we have in the United States.
We should be thankful for the abundance of food that we have to eat, that we have homes to live in, and that we have clothes to wear. After all, there are people in the world who are wondering if they will find any food to feed themselves and their families, who are living in cardboard boxes, and who are wearing rags.
We should be thankful that we can worship in the church of our choice and that our children have schools to attend. Those choices of religious freedom and opportunities to receive an education are often not afforded to other people living around the world.
And lastly, we should be thankful for the jobs that we have and that our ability to improve our lives is only limited by our own ambitions and desires.
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? The list is as long or as personal as each one of us wants to make it. We may be thankful for our good health or the good health of our loved ones. We may be thankful for the safe return of a loved one from military duty overseas. Or it may be as simple as being thankful that we are able to share the holiday with family.
Whatever the reason, this Thanksgiving, remember to give thanks for your blessings.
CELEBRATE WATFORD CITY’S HOLIDAY KICKOFF THIS FRIDAY!
If you are looking for a great way to kick off the upcoming Christmas holiday season, then you won’t want to miss the fireworks display, colorful floats and great shopping opportunities this Friday evening during Watford City’s annual Parade of Lights.
Over the years, Mother Nature has smiled on the city’s kick-off celebration with mild temperatures, which has provided us with a very pleasant evening for enjoying the festivities and browsing through the stores. And it looks like the mild temperatures that we have been experiencing so far this fall will extend through this weekend.
Watford City merchants, the Chamber of Commerce, and a host of other special groups have always done a great job of sponsoring special events in the community throughout the holiday season. But one of my favorites is the Parade of Lights, which fills the sidewalks with friends and family as they enjoy the colorful floats.
So this year be a part of the start of a great holiday season in Watford City by taking in the Parade of Lights, and then spend an evening browsing through your local stores.