Our economy is still ailing. Though there are signs that production in our country is improving, unemployment remains high. This is typical of an economic recovery. It takes time for businesses to hire people once their own companies begin to show a profit. They do not want to expand their workforces, prematurely, fearing the bottom line will return to the negative. Another factor effecting unemployment is that the firms that no longer exist due to the economy will never rehire their former employees.

Some call this the Great Recession. I believe that we experienced a depression. Certainly, not as bad as the Great Depression, but this is a depression, nonetheless. Politicians don’t want to use the word, “depression,” unless they can lay claim to reversing it. Our country has experienced several depressions in our young history. Except for the Great Depression, this is the first one in over 100 years.

The bottom line is that things are still not very good. People are hurting. People are hurting here in El Dorado County.

The El Dorado Food Bank is always in need of help in supplying food to those who hunger in our county. When we give thanks for all the blessings we have, we can respond in gratitude to those less fortunate than ourselves. We live in a community where those who are hungry can eat a meal. A Thanksgiving feast is held annually at St. Patrick’s.

We have much to be thankful for. If we still have job, we can be thankful for that. We lost our job, we can be thankful for unemployment benefits. The exception is the self-employed small business owner. My brother, Kenny, was one of those. He lost his business and everything he has. He is getting help through the generosity of others. He will get back on his feet. But he can be thankful that he had the opportunity to have his dream job. He can be thankful for family support.

This Thanksgiving let us pause in the busyness of the day to give thanks for all we have. God is good and gracious. Showing our gratitude to God is a prayer well prayed.