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November, 2002 It's On My Heart... For as long as I can remember, November has meant Thanksgiving. As a child, it meant a two day vacation from school, watching "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" on television, and knowing that our family would get together some time during the day to eat that big Thanksgiving meal. But, quite frankly, when I was a child, I didn't spend much time on the REAL meaning of the day. As I got a little older, during my teen-age years, it was still a two day vacation from school, watching PART of the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade", eating that big Thanksgiving meal with our family, then watching some football in the afternoon. Still, not much thought or time was given to the REAL meaning of the day. Now, as an adult, a father, and a grandfather, my perspective has changed. I have come to truly appreciate the REAL meaning of the day. Oh, some things haven't changed. It's still a vacation time from school, which means Anita and I get to spend more time together. I still watch A LITTLE of the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade", we still have that big Thanksgiving meal with our family (which is much larger now), and I still watch some football in the afternoon. But, we will spend quite a bit of time just expressing a small part of the things we have to be thankful for. It makes the day much more meaningful. Anita and I have been truly, truly blessed by God. I am thankful for my salvation and the promises and assurances that accompany that event in my life. I am thankful for God's calling in my life thirty-three (33) years ago, to spend my life preaching His Word. I am thankful for a lovely and loving wife, the Godliest woman I know. I am thankful for our children and our precious grandchildren. I am thankful for Dixie Lee Baptist Church and all the churches where God has allowed me to serve. Each one has had a special impact on my life. I am thankful to be an American, and to have been born and raised in this nation. Yes, I have a lot to be thankful for. And, like you, my list could go on, and on, and on. And, I would never be able to exhaust my list. What are you thankful for during this Thanksgiving season? Think about it. Write it down, if you would like. Tell God how thankful you are. Tell your family. Tell your friends and co-workers. From Anita, the Clayton family, and me.....HAPPY THANKSGIVING. God bless you. Jim Clayton |