By Steve Stricker

Columnist

Tomorrow is my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, because it is the least commercialized, pure, focused on family, being thankful for the goodness God has humbly and graciously allowed each of us. If you think your “success” is all because of you, tough love – get over yourself quickly before your life disintegrates before you and you fall flat on your face – be thankful to our Lord and give your life to Him.

Thanksgiving origins can be traced to 1621 when the Wampanoag people and the Pilgrims shared a harvest feast.  This feast did not include turkey or pumpkin pie, but deer, geese, ducks, fish, lobster, other seafood, fruit, corn, nuts, roots, berries, herbs, squash, and beans. 

Being fortunate in life past to participate in family “Norman Rockwell Thanksgivings,” I love this first, pure feast of settlers on Native American land, they accepting them with a joint feast, and the major implications to this day from that first Thanksgiving.

It is nice to have a particular day to focus on the bountiful riches from our Lord, but regardless of the day, month, year, I am on my knees at Sunday and daily Mass, St. John’s to humbly thank God for all he has allowed me.

Take a minute, what are you “most” thankful for on this 2024 Thanksgiving Eve? Sifting this bounty to a few things is so difficult, but what matters most to me is God without whom I have and am nothing, and sanctuary – my place to withdraw from the world, be quiet, at peace, and heal. My home-home is Charleston, MO where I lived from birth to high school graduation, other places, then to Oxford, MS and Ole Miss forever in 1988.

It was a lifetime from annoying apartments to having my dream home built in August 2000 – my sanctuary, my retreat, my forever home, 36 years in Oxford, Ole Miss “Camelot” where my identity was formed and an unbelievable 24 years in my house, “God’s House” home of homes!

And sharing my home since 2016 is “God’s cat,” who adopted me – Jag, (Jaguar) THE smartest animal I have ever been around and THE best relationship I’ve ever had, animal or people!

Having been in decent shape since high school basketball, no health issues, felt totally “bullet proof” cocky about health, until 2011 when God backhanded me, knocked me down, humbled me with break up with my Scottish fiancé, multiple eye surgeries, loss of vision, both hips replaced, and gall bladder removed. Since then, I have had strong faith, began attending daily Mass at St. John’s, but take nothing for granted.

Mountain of stress from Ecco of October14, Nuclear Stress Test on Halloween, then regular Lab results, all OK.

Next, regular six-month eye exam yesterday, November 26; PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) November 27 today; repeated Echo, January 14. So very thankful to be alive, for living in the USA, freedom, my house, Jag, Oxford, Ole Miss, St. John’s, my faith, medical angels, family, y’all, God, and writing this column for The Oxford Eagle.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING & Go Rebels – Beat State!!

Steve has lived in Oxford since 1988, worked on the Ole Miss Campus, and proudly received his Ph.D., in Counseling from The University of Mississippi.