A belated Hanukkah celebration to my friends of the the Jewish faith, Merry Christmas to all of my Christian friends and happy holidays to everyone else out in the world.

Today, December 25, 2014 is a day that we all recognize for its importance but with so many local, regional, national and international issues going on around the world, I wanted to take a little bit of time to impart the importance of being thankful in 2014.

For many of us, we have been blessed and gifted to take care of our families in ways that were unfathomable even a year ago YET we continue to whine, cry ad complain about why this political figure, party or group has not done ‘right by us’. An old family friend once told me that if you rely on politicians to make your life better, you will be forever poor and unhappy.

I’m sure that doesn’t sound right to many but there is a profound truth in that statement. Why put all of your faith in the hands of a few elected officials that have to cater to the collective thousands called ‘constituents’?

So with that being said, I wanted to just through out what I believe, in 2014, this day should be all about….

REFLECTION: 365 days ago, what were you doing? Did you plan your year out to see if you reached goals for 2014? When I look back on my last ‘year’, a number of things got accomplished for me personally and I magnify God’s name for getting me through so many of them. Have you reflected and thanked Him for all you have accomplished this year?

GRATEFULNESS: As our fore fathers and mothers, basically the older generation, would say, “I thank God I am on top soil this morning.” There is no bigger truth than what is said there as with being able to just breathe in the air, drink our favorite hot beverage and get out there ad conquer what is in our ‘world’. Have you been grateful this past year for the ability to even ‘complain’?

BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS: Despite everything that is going on in your life, have you been a blessing to others? I ask that question because sometimes we all get caught up in our own circumstances and we forget about others who we know may need that word of encouragement, that little extra push to get over the hump, or even opening the door for them to just walk through. I know I can be a better friend to those who reach out to me but I will always strive to be there for them should that time arise.

REMEMBER THAT SPITEFULNESS IS NOT WHO WE ARE: Wishing ill will on others, wanting others to feel pain or suffering, that is not who we should be. It is not who i want to aspire to be, that’s for sure. Are there circumstances where Man’s law comes into play? Sure there is but as what is written in the Bible, we must be able to discern ourselves and distinguish what is the importance for the better good. We cannot let the actions of a few bad apples continue to overshadow the common good others continue to do each day. We cannot continue to harp on the inadequacies of a system in our society that was never perfect in the beginning. Remember, anything that man puts together is ‘flawed’; always has been…always will be. What we do is work to improve and repair the imperfections of these systems so that we can have a society that is closer to equality than what it was in the past.

This year, let’s all make it a priority to be grateful for what we have in our lives. Let’s go out and try to be that blessing to others who need it and instead of looking for harm to befall upon others, lets look to ensure that a social awareness of self worth is constantly brought about and an education on the right and wrong paths continues to come forth in those communities who are struggling.

2014 was a great year and 2015 will be an even better one if we all just remember to be “grateful” and push forth a sense of accomplishment for others to aspire to.

Happy Holidays everyone…….