A Time to Give Thanks

It's a time of year to consider the bounty we enjoy in industrialized nations. When we have to lease rental space to contain the overflow of stuff we have, it is an embarrassment of riches. And we're all guilty of letting accumulation outweigh thankfulness sometimes.

Many, many people are very generous--giving to those less fortunate, offering a hand up to those who want to change their lives, organizing fund raisers in their communities, giving hope to those who've been so challenged they've forgotten what it is to look to the future with anticipation.

This year there are more financial challenges for so many with the global economy being fragile. But this is a time to be generous with our gifts -- a kind word, a genuine smile, letting someone ahead of you in line, paying for a coffee for the guy behind you at the drive-thru, dropping off a bag of dog or cat food at the local shelter...all cost nothing but time or a very few dollars.

No, we can't change the inequities in the world with the snap of a finger, much as we might wish to. But we can choose to help someone close to home -- and maybe someday our embarrassment of riches will be in blessings.