It’s time to be thankful, if you haven’t been already.

The holiday season has arrived and people are excited to spend time with family and friends around good food, but the really important thing is reflecting on everything God has done in our lives and the many blessings that have come our way.

Why is it time to be thankful?

“I think it’s an opportunity to be thankful for what God has given us,” said Lindsay Mayer, a junior and pre-med major.

It’s time to look at our surrounding family as we sit at the Thanksgiving table and thank God for all of them, even in their imperfect ways. Someone may have lost their entire family this year in a terrible accident. Someone may be spending the holidays alone in tears because he or she has never had any family to experience the laughter and hugs from relatives that we receive every Thanksgiving.

“I’m thankful for my family,” said Petra VandeZande, a junior and biology for secondary education major. “They are very supportive of me. I love to hang around them, we have lots of fun together and they are good examples for me as well.”

As we eat plate after plate, let’s remember it’s time to thank God for the food that is on the table. There’s a family out there that may not be having the roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, candied yams, buttered rolls and dessert that is so typical of a Thanksgiving meal, because one of the parents may have lost his or her job and cannot afford to indulge in such delicacies. Or, someone is struggling through poverty and only dreams of providing that experience for his or her children. 

It’s time to step outside our door and look at our house and thank God that it hasn’t been burned to the ground like so many others in the terrible fires that are happening in California. Some people will have bigger concerns to worry about on Thanksgiving besides making sure the turkey doesn’t burn and enough salad has been made.

“It’s definitely a tragedy,” said Nick Ponlamuangsri, a sophomore and Bible major. “To lose a home in a point of time where having a home is crucial, it’s like losing a leg when you’re about to run a marathon. Coming from abundance to lack is something that can’t be described in words.”

Did a brother or sister call to say hello? If so, thank God and tell the sibling that he or she is loved. Someone else’s sibling didn’t call last night because he or she is missing or was killed. Is there a disagreement with a family member that has damaged the relationship? If so, end it, because the opportunity may disappear sooner than expected.

This is the season of change. The first harvest meal or Thanksgiving dinner signified the beginnings of a cooperative relationship between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. Many churches celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during the Christmas holiday season, and with his birth came the promise of change.

So while in between the good times and good company on Thanksgiving Day, take the time to thank God for your blessings. And also, don’t forget to take the time to thank God for comforting those who are unable to experience the same during this holiday season.