Back in March of 2012, I was at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville visiting some parishioners, and right near the hospital sits the office of the surgeon who walked with me through 8 surgeries in 2010 and 2011.

I have wanted to make a point of visiting him and saying a special “Thank You.”

So, I did.

I found a nice thank you card and wrote him a note and went up to his office.

I knew he was a busy man, so I thought I would probably just leave the note at the front desk, but he was in his office and he had time to see me.

I was able to thank him for all the help that he gave to me, and to thank him for his kindness and warm smile, and to thank him for being there for me during a real rough time in my life.

And I was even able to give him a big hug.

It felt so good to say thanks! 

That got me thinking about all of the other people that have impacted my life in some way that I don’t always acknowledge.

Saying thanks is a good thing to do. It’s good for us and also for those we appreciate.

I want to say thank you to my barber, Rodney Yoes, for doing such a good job of cutting my hair and trimming my beard, mustache and eyebrows. 

He helps to keep me looking “pretty.”

I want to say thank you to Susie and her crew at Corner Cleaners for keeping my dress clothes clean, pressed and sparkly.

They also help to keep me looking “pretty.”

I want to say thank you to Mary and Carol and David and Zoe and Diandra and all the folks at The Times-Gazette for being so kind to me, and for allowing me to continue writing a column week after week.

I want to say thank you to all of the folks throughout the community who read my columns, “Musings and Memories,” week after week.

Thank you for stopping me at Kroger’s or Walmart or Food Lion or at church and telling me that you enjoy my column.

I am so thankful that the Lord allows me to minister to the people of Bedford County and beyond through the printed page.

I want to say thank you to all the good folks at CVS Pharmacy for keeping my meds straightened out and for showing their concern for me as a customer and as a person.

You are all so kind to me in what I know is a high-stress environment.

I want to say thank you to my Nurse Practitioner Kristin McBay and her amazing crew for taking such good care of me and my health needs month after month, and year after year.

I want to say thank you to all of my Church Family, my dear friends at Cannon United Methodist Church, for allowing me to serve as their pastor, for letting me be so blessed and allowing me to have so much fun, and then paying me for it too! Thank you!

And thank you my Cannon Family for telling me Sunday after Sunday that I preached a good sermon. You are so kind!

And I want to say thank you to the gentlemen and the ladies in my life who bring me joy and love every day: my precious wife, Lynn; my sons, Gabe and Mikey, and my daughter, Laura; and my three beautiful granddaughters, Charlie, Kori, and Jojo.

They continue to love me unconditionally and give me a reason to smile and go on and on and on.

I just turned 69 this week, and I have so much to be thankful for.

I thank the Lord for a Good Life!

Yes, yes, yes!

More than anything, I want to say thank you to my Great God and my Savior Jesus Christ for giving me life, and that more abundantly.

He knows me for the mess that I am and He still loves me in spite of myself. 

I thank God for all of His blessings! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Thank You God!