“When I am weary and cannot sleep.
I count my blessings instead of sheep.
And soon I fall asleep… Counting my blessings.

When my bankroll is getting small.
I think of when I had none at all.
And I fall asleep, counting my blessings.”

- Sung by the late Bing Crosby in White Christmas.

You get in trouble when you compare yourself to others. There are always those less fortunate and there are always those who are doing very, very well.

As I grow older, I am starting to gain an appreciation for people and I want to thank God in Heaven for how he has richly blessed me.

Last Thanksgiving, as our family held hands, we went around the table and said something we were thankful for. It was a little sentimental and a little silly but very important.

When my turn came, I choked up a bit. I knew what I was going to say but the emotion hit me right before I was supposed to speak.

I am eternally grateful for my wife Susan. I don’t tell her that enough. But at that Thanksgiving dinner, I said I was thankful for my three children.

They are all grown and, thank the Lord, they are all sincere believers in Jesus Christ. And their lives reflect the change that only happens when God’s Holy Spirit lives within a believer.

And here is the icing on the cake – my son-in-law and my daughter-in-law are the same way. They are wonderful Christians, devoted to living the Christian life and great spouses for my daughter and son. (My other son is still single – but I pray for his future bride almost every day.)

I was 28 when I married Susan. I was in a singles group at church and had a lot of friends. But I was a lonely guy. God sent Susan my way and for 36-plus years, we have weaved our way through this crazy life.

Along with Susan, I got the best in-laws you could ask for – George and Martha Campbell. They moved to Tulsa this year and that is a blessing for us, our kids and the Campbells. I am so thankful that they are now close by.

In April, we will celebrate 18 years of publishing the Tulsa Beacon. And I can honestly say, there hasn’t been a single week when we didn’t get blessed by some comment or kind deed from our subscribers, readers and advertisers.

It’s a lot of work to put together 51 issues with 816 pages. We can’t do it alone. I am so thankful for Walker Moore, Dan Keating, Robert McDowell, Jim Stovall, Randy Bright, Dave Ramsey, David Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, Walter Williams, Jeff Brucculeri, Ralph Hord, Jim White, Pat Buchanan, Michael Barone, Dick Morris, Henry Payne, Marti Weiss, Focus on the Family, Plugged In Magazine and several other contributors.

Ralph Hord has retired to Florida but he still creates puzzles. Randy Bright is very busy with his architectural work for churches (we are rerunning some of his previous columns). Bob McDowell is 92 years old and going strong.

Only God could bring together such a group of talented people for so little earthly rewards.

I am really thankful for our church, First Baptist Church of Broken Arrow. It is a wonderful congregation filled with devoted Christians.

Pastor Nick Garland, who will retire in a year or two, preaches and teaches the Bible faithfully. He has been a guest on my radio show (Tulsa Beacon Weekend on KCFO AM970 – for which I am also thankful). The staff of our church is so kind and helpful.

We have a new circle of friends in our Sunday School class. I am amazed at the spiritual depth of these folks. They are genuine. They support foreign missions. They help feed hungry people. They do yard work for the elderly. They support local Christian ministries like Mend Pregnancy Resource Center and John 3:16 Mission. They almost all subscribe to the Tulsa Beacon and even buy gift subscriptions for friends.

I am so thankful that God directed us to this church and this class. There are many fine churches in the Tulsa area but this one fits us like a glove.

Here is where some of you will stop reading.

I am thankful for President Donald Trump. Imperfect as he is, he is well meaning and he has changed the course of our nation. And I am thankful for Sen. James Lankford and his Christian witness. There are more leaders who deserve our thanks.

God tells us to pray for our leaders and they need it more than ever now.

I am thankful for my health. I am thankful for a comfortable lifestyle. I am thankful for a future and a hope.

I am not sure what I will be thankful for at the Thanksgiving dinner this year. I have a suspicion it might include Reyma – our new granddaughter.

She’s a peach.