Stardate 11.27.2025
The temperature dipped to 22º before sunrise this morning, and snow is drifting into the forecast for the next couple of days. Even so, the cold can’t quiet the warmth of a day like this. Although our Hawaiian vacation may be over, a part of me will always be connected to those magical islands near the ends of the earth. We’re gathering with our family and extended family here in Iowa — thirteen years now since leaving the valley of the sun outside San Diego, where we raised our children. Over the years, our roots have taken hold here, woven into my wife’s siblings, their families, and the community that surrounds us. In many ways, we’ve become fully Iowan. And today, our gratitude runs deep.
To our friends and loved ones who are far from us this Thanksgiving — please know you’re close in our hearts. Saying goodbye when we relocated was one of the hardest chapters of our story, and the miles have never changed the love.
As I reflect on what I’m most thankful for this year, my mind goes straight to family. Many of you know that my mother recently arm-wrestled with the Grim Reaper himself. The doctors told us her odds were under three percent. Walking through that valley, combined with the losses of friends and family these last couple of years, has taken a toll on me. I found myself wrestling to regain the positivity that once came easily.
The battles — spiritual, emotional, and personal — still show up daily. Some days the pressure is even heavier. That’s what finally led me to seek professional help, and I’m grateful I did. And while the struggles haven’t magically disappeared, something profound has shifted: I now anchor my days in gratitude, paired with the serenity prayer.
It has become a quiet compass for me — steady, grounding, and life-giving. If today you’re searching for something to be thankful for, or if your heart feels a little heavy, this prayer is my offering to you. I’m thankful for you. I’m thankful you take the time to read these stories — even the ones that were written through my darkest moments.
The Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Happy Thanksgiving, my friend. May you live long and prosper.
Captain’s Addendum
Bones: “Spock, remind me again why gratitude hits harder on cold mornings?”
Spock: “Doctor, emotional warmth provides a compensatory effect against environmental discomfort.”
Bones: “You mean it warms the heart when the toes freeze.”
Spock: “That is a less elegant phrasing… yet not inaccurate.”
Michael: Gentlemen, maybe that’s the point. When life feels chilly, gratitude is the fire God keeps burning inside us — bright enough to guide us home.
Scripture for the Journey
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1
Gratitude to Carry Into the Day
Today, I’m thankful for God’s steady hand — guiding us through snowstorms, valleys, and unexpected mercies — and for the people who walk beside us on the journey.
No comments:
Post a Comment