An Attitude of Gratitude

Greetings and happy Thanksgiving week! I hope that each and every one of you are able to find time to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family this week as we collectively take time to show gratitude for all the blessings we have been given. 

In the early days when the first settlers, those we now call pilgrims, were in America, survival was the basic goal of every day. Foot shortages and a harsh, new environment could easily have ended the great American experiment prematurely. Fortunately, a friendly tribe of Native Americans, the Wampanoag tribe, helped and guided the pilgrims in planting food and improving their shelter during the winter, allowing them not only to live, but to thrive. When they gathered to celebrate their harvest, it was a celebration of being alive and having hope for the future. 

The tradition continued, unofficially, for another couple of centuries. It was in 1863, in the midst of the United States’ Civil War, that Abraham Lincoln decided to make it an official holiday. He signed a proclamation that united the country one day per year in a collective time of giving thanks. I find it incredibly important to remember that President Lincoln chose that time, when our country was at its most divided, to remind us that no matter the situation we can find positivity and gratitude. 

Today, for most of us, we do not face stakes as high as survival and civil war, but we do have problems and uncertainties. I cannot deny that. Inflation and global conflicts alone provide adequate struggles and fears. That is why we must focus on the positive in our lives, no matter how seemingly small. The love of our families, the laughter of friends, the provisions of food, shelter and freedom are things that not everyone has or can take for granted. That is what this holiday is all about, thanking God for that which he has blessed us. 

On a personal note, I can say with 100% certainty that one of the things for which I am most grateful is to be a part of this community and to be its representative in the Missouri Senate. Soon the General Assembly will return to Jefferson City and to doing the work of the people. While that work is often challenging, I enjoy the opportunity to be your voice and to carry your challenges, concerns, thoughts and ideas for making Missouri better to the Capitol. 

Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving. 

Please feel free to contact my office at (573) 751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.