Happy Thanksgiving! Great Expectations!

I start my day off, every day, by saying a prayer that starts, “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it…” Every day, I fail at meeting the expectations of my good hopes, sometimes less, sometimes more. 

This week is a time to focus on those things that we are grateful for, to give thanks to Almighty God, the Lord Jehovah, for the blessings bestowed upon us throughout the previous year. And so, we will meet with family, friends, and perhaps those who do not have a place to go on this special day. We will open our homes up, overeat, and talk about all the things we have been told not to talk about during these gatherings. Hopefully, you drink freely, but not in excess, and perhaps watch some football. This is a typical Southern Thanksgiving Day, at least in my home. 

I’ll have to admit, recently, a series of events dampened my spirits a bit. I had a truck break down, it’s a good truck, a little old, but worth keeping. Finding the particular part took some research, and many dead ends. It was frustrating, and I had to do all of the hunting for this part while I was traveling. And to make it worse, I was very ill. I’m not prone to being sick, it’s an anomaly. To add more exasperation, a household appliance broke down, again. You can imagine my thankfulness meter was a little low. And because we can grow myopic in our vision, good things go unnoticed.

So, combined with all of the things that needed repair, including myself, I was waiting for something unexpected, perhaps even tragic to happen at home. My wife and one of my daughters were away having a great time together before my daughter is to become a wife. Over the last few years all the angst of the teen and college years have blossomed into a truly beautiful friendship between the two. The two youngest children were at home, the oldest taking care of our last minor child. You always worry a little as a parent on these occasions. And then I looked at my phone app, the one that tracks those in my household, and I was humbled by the blessings that I witnessed. 

Without any prompting, the eldest decided to go pick the youngest up at their tutorial, take them both out for supper, and pick up a dessert before heading home. I’ll admit my eyes got a little teary thinking how blessed I am with my children. And though this is not unusual, even those that have married into our family, whom I love as my own, they go out of their way to spend time with each other. For instance, last night, my daughter-in-law took our youngest out to see one of their favorite movies. They just do nice things for each other without hesitation. If someone needs a little money, another child will step in and help; if one needs assistance in anyway, and they are there to help. What man would not be proud or be thankful for such a beautiful family. 

Therefore, this altered my perspective, and I stopped focusing on the less important things happening around me, and I remembered the expectations of my daily prayer. 

As a result, here are some things I am thankful for, not in any order of importance, and most definitely not complete. 

My wife and the beauty she brought into my life from the moment I saw her over 40 years ago, and still to this day. The gift of forgiveness that she has taught me, being patient as the Holy Spirit continues to shape me into the man I should become. The way she keeps our home a place that our children and grandchildren flock to several times a week is beyond overwhelming and surpasses every expectation for what I hoped my family would become. 

My children, both my biological children and those that have married into our ever-expanding Southern tribe. As to date, all have married rightly from our people, and it is such a blessing to hear no foreign tongues, but the sound of Southern accents around our table for family meals. And it is always humbling to see my children and grandchildren in the pew alongside me in our Presbyterian church, with the expectation that the covenantal succession will continue long after I have passed. 

I’m thankful for those fellow travelers that I have met from my association with Identity Dixie, and especially the writers, some of the most selfless people within the dissident communities. They produce valuable content that keep our people informed, encouraged, entertained, and hopefully inspired to continue the fight, and all with a pauper’s payment (or none at all).

And especially, on this blessed Thanksgiving Day, I’m thankful for y’all, the readers of Identity Dixie. You keep us going with your readership, your commentary, and your devotion to the cause of a Free Dixie. Blessings to our brothers and sisters, with a heart of gratitude from this old man. 

In closing, from Our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom our thankfulness, gratitude, and our praise belong exclusively. 

Deo Vindice!

God save the South!