Saturday Column: Thanksgiving memories may be inspiration for future

Thanksgiving is indeed a special holiday that seems to carry more importance and meaning year by year.

It would be relatively easy these days to be consumed with worries about all the dangers and bad things facing our nation — or problems and challenges we face as individuals. But Thanksgiving, at least for a day or so, helps focus our attention on the many reasons we have to be grateful for the freedoms, opportunities and blessings Americans enjoy. At the same time, it should cause individuals to realize they shouldn’t take these freedoms for granted and that they must remain alert to protect what it means to be an American and live in this country.

It’s wrong, or an overstatement or generalization, to say everyone should be happy and appreciative of what they have or grateful to be living in the U.S. because there are too many who do face extremely tough times. But, at the same time, consider the generosity of millions of Americans who share their wealth and time to try to make life more comfortable or help provide opportunities for the unfortunate. America is a giving nation.

Thanksgiving has a specialness about it because it provides a time for family reunions, good unhurried visits and the joys of remembering the past.

It’s the time for looking at old scrapbooks, photographs or newspaper clippings, remembering what relatives used to look like or trying to remember the names of those in pictures from the past. (It’s also a reminder of the importance of writing names on the backs of pictures because memories do fade with age.)

For those with former athletes in the family, Thanksgiving provides a time to think back to the days when high school football teams were challenging for state titles or remembering traditional college rivalries, such as Kansas vs. Kansas State or Kansas vs. Missouri games.

For one reason or another, it seems scrapbooks were more in vogue years ago than they are today. Maybe children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren looking at old scrapbooks during a Thanksgiving afternoon or evening might get the urge to give more attention to saving remembrances of past events or times in their lives.

Old dance cards; a dried flower worn at a special occasion; pictures of classmates; grade cards with courses such as civics, neatness, citizenship, American national government, logic, Bible; wedding pictures and so many other special collectibles serve to bring back fond memories.

And, in so many cases, remembering what happened and who helped make those things happen reinforces the importance of realizing the work and sacrifice of former generations to help make so many things possible today.

The country, and individuals, need a Thanksgiving Day. Aside from turkey and gravy and a good football game, everyone needs a time to slow down, do some remembering, enjoy good visits and realize how much there is to be thankful for.

Terrorism, national debt, unemployment, health insurance, natural disasters, partisan politics, taxes and the eligibility of athletic superstars all are likely to be issues for years to come. They all are terribly important but so is time spent remembering the good things of the past and to appreciate the specialness and greatness of this country.

Even more important is to remember that the good times of the past and present, even the shrinking freedoms Americans enjoy today, are not guaranteed for future generations. Scrapbooks may help reinforce what helped to make America great, the sacrifices of our forefathers and the values that helped shape this nation. Hopefully, good Thanksgiving Day visits and glimpses of the past somehow will serve as a stimulus or motivation for current adults, children and grandchildren to make the commitment to be good citizens, patriots and careful caretakers of our nation.