This year’s Thanksgiving Day observance will be like no other in our lifetimes. The COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat to our health and safety, and therefore guidance dictates that we should avoid the traditional larger gatherings and instead only celebrate among those in our immediate circle.

Some of us have it better than others this year, it goes without saying. Conversely, many of us may be struggling to simply make ends meet. One thing that unites us all in common spirit is the heartfelt acknowledgement of what we do have to be grateful for.

Whatever our circumstances may be, each and every one of us has blessings to count and thanks to be given for them.

This should extend to our sense of charity, too, as we contribute to our local churches, soup kitchens, and service organizations. The experience of simply volunteering to serve food at a holiday dinner can be a life changing event, as one learns firsthand the value of, and satisfaction achieved by, the selfless act of helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

May this holiday provide a bit of respite from the gloom and tensions we have struggled with recently. May it give us pause to reflect on our many blessings in spite of the challenges. Better times are on the way, and one day we will look back on this time and feel a sense of pride that we have bravely weathered the storm.

We wish all of our readers the happiest of holidays, and all the days to come thereafter. We further extend our sincere wishes for the blessings of life’s bounty to one and all outside of our readership.