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Thanksgiving is always a special holiday – one of the few that hasn’t been overly commercialized.

We need Thanksgiving – a time to be with family and friends in celebration of what is good about life – every year.

Give thanks for all the little things that make life good, but don’t forget to give thanks for the freedom and liberty this nation enjoys. We may not be perfect, but we constantly strive for perfection – always grasping for the ideals upon which this nation was founded.

Our example has spearheaded a global cry for freedom. Look at all the nations in the world that have embraced democracy and remember that this young nation was the first; that our happiness and prosperity inspire other nations to follow our example and give hope to the billions still yearning for freedom. That’s something to be extremely thankful for.

The best way to give thanks for everything that is good and right with the world, with this nation and with our own lives, is to join family and friends in joyous celebration.

Forgive all family tiffs at least for this day and simply enjoy the bounty, both agricultural and spiritual, that this great nation produces. And to make it a truly thankful day, put down your electronic gadgets and engage in sharing information the old-fashioned way….face-to-face.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, remember to drive carefully and alertly. Don’t let those big meals lull you to sleep on the way back home. And for goodness sake don’t drink and drive.

And as we prepare for Thanksgiving’s traditional aftermath – aka Black Friday – please don’t forget about our local merchants.

While there’s no doubt that many people will take trips to the big cities for some Christmas shopping, if you can get it locally, please do so.

When you shop locally, you support a local business owner and you help keep local folks employed. You help to keep the sales tax dollars flowing into the local county and town coffers. Shopping in Norfolk or Greenville or Raleigh means you’re taking money, and possibly jobs, from this area. That sales tax money remains in the place where you make purchases.

Just a reminder as you prepare for Christmas to shop locally and support local holiday events for the economic health and spirit of the area.

– The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald