Thankful or Grateful?

Photo: MVL

As we head into this Turkey-roasting, cranberry-sauce-making, crazy-relative-exposure season, we find ourselves asking a weird question – should we be "Thankful" or "Grateful"?

Not that there's anything wrong with "Thankful"! Most of us are thankful for lots of stuff on an almost hourly basis. For example, in the last 6 hours, I was thankful that I even woke up to a new day today, next to someone who loves me. I was even more thankful later when I found Aldi wasn't crowded beyond belief. I was then thankful that I had my wife's Costco card for some reason and was able to get cheap good gas, that it rained a little this morning and gave my plants some free water, and that I remembered to pick up some treats my wife likes while I was out and about.

But ask me what I'm grateful for and my answers are oddly-yet-similarly different. I was grateful my wife surprised me by making us coffees after making a surprise morning fire in our fireplace. I was grateful for the lady who intercepted me half-way to returning my Aldi cart, trading me a quarter for a half-mile, very noisy walk. I was grateful that my son put some tools I left out under shelter before it rained, and that my wife loved the treats I surprised her with.

"Thanksgiving" is perfectly titled. Because being thankful is for big stuff. I thank God for helping me find my last pair of reading glasses with total seriousness. But it's interesting how much I'm just plain "Grateful" for. For example, here are a few big things that Team MVL is "Grateful" for...

• Mooresville natives, neighbors, residents, groups, businesses, and elected's who appreciated and embraced our creative talents and trusted us to help grow this once small rail town over the last 17+ years

• the MGSD teachers and administrators who gave our son an education that rivaled any private school in California. (really, we know from experience)

• our long-time neighbor, Brenda (we love her so much we call her "Frienda"}, who always waves as we drive past or chats when we stroll by

See? This November we encourage you to be as thankful as you can for the big blessings and as grateful as all-get-out for the small, personal people, places, and things that make your life meaningful and vibrant

Happy Thanksgiving, Neighbors! We're grateful you're on Team MVL.