What are you thankful for?

Thankful for help

On this Thanksgiving Day, I'm most thankful that my dad is still here to celebrate with us. This past May, my father faced serious medical issues and was admitted to the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Kinston.

Since his admittance, he has received nothing but the finest care. The staff truly cares about the residents and strives to meet their every need. I am very grateful that this facility has allowed my dad to celebrate another Thanksgiving with his family.

This is what I’m thankful for...

My family.

Plants because bees get the nectar and farmers get the honey and then it will make sick people good again.

God ’cause he created everything.

Schools and books ’cause books make you smarter.

Couches and clothes.

Laughter.

Houses and friends.

Siri, ’cause she tells us where to go.

Always thankful

I am immensely thankful for my beloved Raphael and our two delightful, over-grown kittens. And I am thankful for good friends, hot Holy Basil tea, cold white wine, thought-provoking podcasts, yoga, and broccoli. Today and every day.

Thankful for God

I thank God for giving us His well beloved Son full of grace and truth.

Thankful for community

In spite of the many problems at home and abroad, I am most blessed. I love and am loved by 30 members of an extended family, including three exceptional children, have good neighbors, and have tried to be a good neighbor, have friends, am blessed as a member of a faith community where love for each other is constantly shared, am unapologetically patriotic as a veteran who loves this country in spite of its somewhat misstep pasts, and enjoying retirement in my 90s after 63 years with a wonderful wife.

These are my reasons for being thankful this Thanksgiving.

Thankful at Thanksgiving

I am a palliative care and hospice physician here in Raleigh. I take care of the sickest and terminally-ill patients, who often have family feeling overwhelmed in how they can best take care of their loved ones. Often, I tend to these families as they watch their loved ones take their last breath.

Whenever a person learns about what kind of job I have, I often hear “what a depressing job you have,” or “how can you do that” and even “why would you ever want do that kind of job?” But in all the years I have been practicing, my response is always the same: my specialty is the most rewarding job, providing me the honor to be present at the most significant time in the lives of my patients and their families. Even more, I get to learn more about life and how to actually live, through the lessons my patients and families teach me each day. Every day, I witness the strength of families, as they endure what they never thought they could handle. Every day, I witness the amazing faith of families, as they accept the loss of their loved one, teaching me that there will be an eternal union together one day. Every day, I get to witness a family member taking on a care-giving role they never thought they had the strength to do. Every day, I get to witness the amazing love families have for each other, as evident by my patients “holding on” for the sake of living one more day for their family.

And so, I am thankful for you, my patients, and your families, for allowing me to be a part of the most significant and important part of your journeys. It is my sincere hope that you all find comfort this Thanksgiving being together, and continue to share the stories of your loved ones, as this will bring solace to all of our grieving souls.

Thankful for forgiveness

I am thankful that God has pulled me out of the death trap of unforgiveness.

Thankful for university

This Thanksgiving I am so thankful to be a student at NC State University. Over the past four years, Raleigh has become my home. From living in Owen Hall my freshman year, to hosting the second Friendsgiving my senior year, my friends have truly become a family and a home away from home. I am so thankful to attend one of the best schools in the world and to learn from the intelligent students, staff and faculty. Being a part of the Wolfpack encourages me to hold myself to the highest standard both in and out of the classroom. I am excited for my future as a result of the skills and confidence I have built during my time at this incredible school.

To quote Jimmy Valvano: “If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.” Thank you NC State for the past four years of something special.

I also recently reflected on a smaller list of things I am so thankful for everyday but especially during the holidays. A list of small things I am so thankful for: extra minutes to drink coffee from a real mug, the first crisp day of fall, an unexpected Wolfpack win, hitting every green light down Hillsborough Street, making it home in time for dinner with mom, busy grocery stores during holiday seasons, turning the heat on for the first time all year, the first day Christmas music is playing on the radio, Friendsgiving and so much more!

This story was originally published November 22, 2017 at 6:00 PM with the headline "What are you thankful for?."