Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give thanks, certainly for you health, your loved ones, your family. But also to give thanks in the larger term.  Think of all the foods on your menu today. Think of the farmers, the food processors, the factory laborers, the grocery store employees who all had something to do with getting that food to your table. Think of the people and perhaps artists or artisans involved in the plates, bowls, saucers that you will serve that food with. Think of a miner somewhere or growers who were involved in that salt and all of those other spices. Think of the food scientists and all of the other scientists and inventors involved in your  meal, and creating the technology to print that recipe book or to design and build the transportation system that will bring you or your guests wherever you or they are going,  We like to think of the holiday as individuals, yet that meal would not be possible without much of society working together to make it happen.

Lastly think of the fact that you are eating it, in the midst of “peace time”.  America is not actually at peace, and we have ongoing military actions across the world. We have men and women working today across the world to protect our country.  Some of our service members were able to make it home for the Holiday, Others are far from home serving our country. Some are eating far from home with friends or are being fed by others.

So when you sit and eat today, give Thanks, not just for the family members with you, but for all those others out there who literally helped you make that meal.

© words and picture by Dan DeMarle 2017