Let Us Say 'Thank You'

Looking Back

An opinion from 1943

Most of us were brought up in homes where the fine old custom of saying Grace prevailed and we learned to daily express our gratitude to 'the Giver of all Gifts' 'In our home, we say Grace' meant something very real and fine.

Saying Grace is a custom that should be part of our lives today, for we have much for which to be thankful. Although the road is rough and the toll greater than we can yet conceive, we know now that victory lies a head.

What are we thankful for this Thanksgiving Day?

We are thankful that we have learned much in the two years since war came upon us. We have lost much, but we have learned what things are essential and what we can do without. External things can never again have as vital a meaning to us.

We are thankful that we have the misery of these days learned that the ideals of which we boasted on holidays and at campaign times are living things for which we are willing to sacrifice.

We are thankful that we have learned how to spend less time thinking about what we want for ourselves, more time concentrating on our duties to others and more time enjoying those mercies we already possess.

We are thankful that we have learned how to cooperate with our fellow men, finding in the stress of emergency that the divisions that divide us are less important than the things that we have in common and that unite us.

We are thankful that we have learned the inner satisfaction in work and sacrifice and in being on the side of justice and mercy.

We are thankful that we have learned the privilege of living the greatest hour of history, that we can in that hour be of service to our brothers everywhere, whatever their class, creed or color.

As Chesterton so aptly said - "The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost." We have learned what we really love - and for that knowledge while there is yet time to keep it, we are thankful.

Written by Ruth Taylor in 1943, provided by Whitefish Historical Society.