Originally posted on November 20, 2016

It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and our Sunday School teacher asked each of us to choose one thing for which we were thankful and share it with the class.

I had to think about what I should express my thanks.  At the time I was in the middle of a five-year phased retirement, and that is probably why I choose to express my thanks that I had been able to make a living doing what I loved: doing mathematics.  To me doing mathematics was like working puzzles, and teaching about it was just about as much fun.  Not only that, while Paulette and I were not rich, or even well to do, all of our needs, and most of our wants, had been satisfied.  Neither of us had much growing up, and during high school I was very worried about how I was going to find the money needed to go to college.  I felt very lucky to have received generous scholarships that enabled me to go to college and graduate school.  And then I found a college teaching position that allowed me to do what I loved.

It was Bill’s turn just before me.  Normally Bill was quiet and taciturn, but that morning he was eloquent as he described how thankful he was that God had given him his wonderful wife Iris.  I can’t remember his exact words, except that they were very moving.  I do remember him saying that he felt God’s love through Iris’ love for him.  I need to explain a little bit about Bill.  He had been a long term bachelor, but had met and married Iris about fifteen years before when he was in his early fifties.  She was a widow of about the same age.  He also embraced her children and grandchildren, and in return they all embraced him.  Unfortunately, Iris had died about two weeks earlier, which made his words even more poignant.  We were all moved by how in his time of grief he expressed love and thanks to God rather than anger and bitterness.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Coming after Bill I felt small, and even a little silly, giving thanks to God for letting me make a living working puzzles!   With the passage of time, I’ve come to believe that both Bill and I were right to give the thanks we did.  It is important to reflect on all we have for which we should be grateful, and then to thank God.  This Thanksgiving I’m also thankful for having had a friend like Bill and for having heard his eloquent words.

Read Psalm 136 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Jim