Being Thankful to Those Who Do So Much

As we gather together on Thanksgiving and ponder the meaning of the holiday many of us will celebrate, I hope we will not lose sight of those not spending the day with their family and friends. I’ve tried never to do that, as I am familiar with too many families that have had to deal with those tragedies.

Many of my friends enjoy taking cruises quite regularly and speak about the wonderful times they always seem to have. Of course, those taking the Mayflower were not so lucky. There was no ship’s bursar to complain to about your cabin or seek an upgrade; what you saw is what you ended up with, if you were lucky.

If anything, those on the ship may have lucked out, as they didn’t have to listen to hundreds of kids splashing around in one of the pools playing that aggravating “Marco Polo” game. They did, however, have to contend with terrible afflictions such as scurvy and other diseases that affected them on and off the ship after arrival.

The food wouldn’t have been very palatable to our tastes today and the rolling and tossing of the boat didn’t help to keep one’s meals down either.

As tough as the journey was, almost half of the crew and passengers did survive the crossing as well as the first year here in the new world. They were certainly a hearty lot of souls who put down their roots in a strange new land that would eventually become their new home, even though they missed their intended target of a landing in New York.

During the last few years, we did suffer some damage here on our usually quiet and serene island, but it was minimal in relationship to our neighbors in Goodland, Everglades City, Immokalee, and other areas that suffered must greater devastation.

It was only a few short months ago which saw those north of us suffer severe damage and the loss of 239 lives as Hurricane Helene slammed into the States of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. 

It is important that we keep in perspective the minor challenges we think are overwhelming in our own lives. I’m not trying to trivialize some of those issues, but I do know of wonderful families that are dealing with their own with much greater losses.

I can’t help, though, to think about the 500-plus volunteers who came together early in November to package over 230,000 meals as part of the Meal of Hope effort to feed the hungry here in Southwest Florida. That effort, in combination with the Harry Chapin Food Bank, ensures those not as fortunate as us avert tragedies within so many families in Collier and Lee Counties.

The continuing efforts over the last year by organizations such as Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, and many, many more agencies and organizations that do so much here on our island and abroad to reach out to others, with assistance and charity, is overwhelming.

The volunteers who man the Daily Food Pantry, along with the Mobil Food Pantry, continue to help to feed the needy and shut-ins each week, along with those with the Meals on Wheels efforts, do a spectacular job.

We must also not forget those men and women who every day put their lives on the line for us all with our law enforcement, fire/rescue and EMS organizations. Law enforcement alone has lost 71 of their brave ranks as I write this column. That marks a 15% increase over the same period last year.

Another 52 firefighters have lost their lives in Line of Duty incidents and the year is yet to be closed out for these brave heroes. Think about them and their dedication to duty and never forget their sacrifices.

Last but not least, think about those soldiers, airmen, seaman, Marines and Coast Guard professionals who stand the watch protecting our freedoms and liberties every day. Think about the tables that won’t have a son, daughter, husband, wife, or parent sitting beside their family ever again. All of this as we keep in mind the 200,000 personnel who are deployed away from their loved ones as they make good on their pledge to protect our nation.

Each and every one of us has a lot to be thankful for, not only on this holiday but on every day we take a breath. On this Thanksgiving, make a pledge to yourself to be more thankful for these wonderful folks that do so much for us every day and try to do a little more for others. Happy Thanksgiving, and God Bless You All.