FOX 18 : KLJB/KGCW – Quad Cities: Davenport, Bettendorf,Beyond thankful, but wanting more

Beyond thankful, but wanting more

This is the time of year to reflect on what we are all thankful for. For me, being thankful for what I have, isn't the hard part. I have a loving family, health and a steady job. But as I write this blog entry, I can't ignore this feeling of wanting more. Not for me personally, per se, but for me as an American, for my fellow Americans. For three years now, we have been enduring an economic crisis. We've watched our friends and family lose their jobs, our neighbors lose their homes. For those who still get paychecks-- some are shrinking and there's always that fear of being next on the chopping block. The scene in Washington today doesn't provide any comfort, but only more pessimism that we are far from pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps.

So while our elected leaders squabble to fix our country, where should the rest of us look for hope? This weekend, I didn't have to look far. I spent time at the MLK Center Thanksgiving Dinner in Rock Island. Alongside dozens of volunteers, we fed more than 3,500 people in the Quad Cities a hearty Thanksgiving dinner. The selflessness of all those volunteers made me remember the true spirit of what makes this country great. As long as that never goes away we can continue living in a country to be thankful for.