As perhaps you have by now surmised, the Intramuralist believes thanks can be given in all scenarios and circumstance.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let me suggest that it\u2019s always easy nor that we always feel like being intentional with our gratitude.\u00a0 I would never diminish the days that are hard for each of us.\u00a0 Nonetheless, I do believe reasons for thanksgiving are always plentiful.<\/p>\n
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Today, I am thankful for…<\/p>\n
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Life.\u00a0 Liberty.\u00a0 The pursuit of far more than happiness.\u00a0 Democracy.\u00a0 Elections.\u00a0 Voting.\u00a0 The absence of dictatorship.\u00a0 The freedom to agree or disagree.\u00a0 The right to free speech \u2014 even when we actually disagree.\u00a0 The Constitution.\u00a0 The Bill of Rights.\u00a0 Freedoms endowed by our Creator.\u00a0 The wisdom foreseen by our founders.<\/p>\n
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Communication.\u00a0 Listening.\u00a0 The encouragement to listen.\u00a0 Authentic dialogue.\u00a0 The art of dialogue.\u00a0 Respectful dialogue.\u00a0 Dialogue where opinions aren\u2019t all pre-determined (see again, listening).<\/em>\u00a0 Community.\u00a0 Other people.\u00a0 People to remind us that self is not as important as we think it is.\u00a0 Humility.\u00a0 Being grounded.\u00a0 Accountability.\u00a0 Wise persons bold enough and compassionate enough to help us in the grounding.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Faith.\u00a0 Freedom within faith.\u00a0 Freedom of faith \u2014 not freedom from it.\u00a0 Free will.\u00a0 The opportunity to see God and love him back.\u00a0 His creation and the challenge and responsibility to love his children well.\u00a0 Forgiveness \u2014 especially when we\u2019ve needed it most but had somehow had no idea.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ice cream.\u00a0 Sundaes.\u00a0 Coffee.\u00a0 Playing cards.\u00a0 More coffee.\u00a0 Jokers wild.\u00a0 Walking on sunshine, water, or just plain walking.\u00a0 Game shows.\u00a0 Knowing the Daily Double.\u00a0 The Oak Ridge Boys.\u00a0 Computers.\u00a0 Christmas.\u00a0 iPods, Pads, etc.\u00a0 Diet Coke.\u00a0 Mountain Dew.\u00a0 Caffeine-free Mountain Dew.\u00a0 Garland.\u00a0 (Not tinsel, though… too messy on Dec. 26th.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chocolate.\u00a0 Hot chocolate.\u00a0 Whipped cream.\u00a0 Starbucks.\u00a0 Lattes.\u00a0 Nonfat.\u00a0 Foam.\u00a0 (Did I mention coffee?)<\/em>\u00a0 More foam.\u00a0 Sunrise.\u00a0 Sunset.\u00a0 \u201cFiddler on the Roof.\u201d\u00a0 Old musicals.\u00a0 Old books.\u00a0 Classics.\u00a0 Julie Andrews.\u00a0 New movies.\u00a0 Star Wars.\u00a0 Han Solo.\u00a0 The princess.\u00a0 That Darth is not my father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Music.\u00a0 More music.\u00a0 Mariah Carey.\u00a0 Martina McBride.\u00a0 Miranda Lambert.\u00a0 Bruno Mars.\u00a0 The Beatles.\u00a0 London.\u00a0 Those big Beefeater hats.\u00a0 Prince William and Princess Kate.\u00a0 Monarchies.\u00a0 Monarchies not here.\u00a0 Broadway.\u00a0 Elphaba.\u00a0 Empathy.\u00a0 Compassion.\u00a0 Selflessness.\u00a0 Teachability.\u00a0 Tenderness.\u00a0 Truth.\u00a0 Growth.\u00a0 More growth.\u00a0 Recognizing both the need for growth and progress.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respect.\u00a0 Submission.\u00a0 Honor.\u00a0 The elderly.\u00a0 Youth.\u00a0 The privilege of learning.\u00a0 The responsibility of teaching.\u00a0 Taking them seriously.\u00a0 Being intentional.\u00a0 Sometimes being silly, too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Old dogs.\u00a0 New tricks.\u00a0 Recognizing none of us have life all figured out.\u00a0 College football.\u00a0 College basketball.\u00a0 Good games.\u00a0 The NFL.\u00a0 Positive attitudes.\u00a0 Knowledgeable fans.\u00a0 Cheering for a good play by the other team.\u00a0 The other team.\u00a0 Cool uniforms.\u00a0 Nike.\u00a0 Adidas.\u00a0 Sweats on a Saturday morn.\u00a0 Swag.\u00a0 (Sometimes no swag.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Falling leaves.\u00a0 Brilliant colors.\u00a0 No more to pick up.\u00a0 Winter snows.\u00a0 The beach.\u00a0 Dreaming of the beach as winter arrives.\u00a0 The mountains.\u00a0 Water by the beach and the water by the mountains.\u00a0 Friends there.\u00a0 Friends here.\u00a0 Friends who love you no matter what.\u00a0 Thick or thin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Foreign countries.\u00a0 Home.\u00a0 Coming home.\u00a0 Clean laundry.\u00a0 Sheets just out of the dryer.\u00a0 Picked up toys.\u00a0 Puzzles.\u00a0 Getting the toys out.\u00a0 Throwing them everywhere.\u00a0 Children.\u00a0 Babies.\u00a0 Special kids.\u00a0 Mature adults.\u00a0 Even teenagers… well, most of the time.<\/p>\n Sitcoms.\u00a0 Sundays.\u00a0 \u201cCheers.\u201d\u00a0 A good toast.\u00a0 Baking.\u00a0 Alma maters.\u00a0 Work.\u00a0 Days off.\u00a0 Vacation.\u00a0 Christmas music.\u00a0 Creativity.\u00a0 Brainstorming.\u00a0 Donuts.\u00a0 (P.S. brainstorming while eating donuts is extra good.)<\/em>\u00a0 Wine.\u00a0 The first miracle.\u00a0 All miracles.\u00a0 Being aware of them.\u00a0 Vision.\u00a0 Seeing rightly.\u00a0 Acting wisely.\u00a0 Loving those around us.\u00a0 The opportunity.\u00a0 The challenge.\u00a0 The joy…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yes, these things make me thankful…\u00a0 today…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As perhaps you have by now surmised, the Intramuralist believes thanks can be given in all scenarios and circumstance.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let me suggest that it\u2019s always easy nor that we always feel like being intentional with our gratitude.\u00a0 I would never diminish the days that are hard for each of us.\u00a0 Nonetheless, I do believe … <\/p>\n