We have many things to be thankful for all the time

OK, so Thanksgiving is over. Or is it? The American Indian Relief Council, which is an organization I know nothing about, sent me a nice article entitled “The tradition of the wishbone.” It relates to the Pilgrims and the Indians who helped them to live through those hard times when they could have all died from starvation and illness. The story begins with the Pilgrims giving thanks to God and to the American Indians.

When the Pilgrims settled on Plymouth Rock they found the place full of wild turkeys. I’m just repeating the story. Guess it was true. I wasn’t there. Apparently, those present found a “wishbone” in every turkey and started the custom of two people, each pulling on a leg of the “wishbone.” Whoever held the longest leg won whatever good luck it brought him.

Now we come to the 1930s. Our storyteller tells us people were still pulling on the wishbone. American entrepreneurs tucked pictures of wishbones into artwork or scribbled them onto gold coins or whatever else they could think of.

Have you ever pulled on a wishbone? I can guarantee it never left a pot of gold in your lap.

We have something far more precious handed down to us from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and others who framed the bedrock of our republic. Why did I say “republic” instead of democracy? In a democracy those with the most money or people win the race.

My old fashioned dictionary says, “A republic is a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.” I didn’t ask Mr. Google about it. He’s too busy with “modern” things.

Benjamin Franklin is a better speaker than I am so I‘m going to let him tell you a thing or two. “I have lived, Sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in Vain that build it.’ “

Let’s take a lesson from the Pilgrims. Thanksgiving to giving thanks is never over. It’s always on the menu.

Luella Dow is a Cheney-area author. She can be reached at lotsaplots1@aol.com.