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Ryan & I around 1986–he loved to be funny

(This article was first published on our blog November 24, 2010)

It seems so cliche to write about being thankful the day before we celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S. I suppose it would be somewhat hypocritical if only done once a year. But, I was trained early on to always be grateful.

The other day I was watching something on TV that talked about how saying “thank you” and being “thankful” was something that children have to learn. It isn’t something that comes naturally. I remember very clearly as a child, my mother would not give me something if I didn’t use those “magic words” please and thank you.

She was a stickler with teaching me to be thankful. At bedtime my dad would listen to my prayers thanking God for all my family and friends. I think that early training set the stage for me to have a grateful attitude.

As a Christian, my faith has trained me to be thankful in all circumstances. Everything. Not so easy when you lose your only child. But, when Ryan died in 1994 when he was 11, I got so much strength from the biblical account of Job…

In a single day, Job lost all his livestock, his servants, his camels and all 10 of his children. His response to all this tragedy was to worship God and he said “Naked I came into this world and naked I will return. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord”.

When life gets difficult, I think about that. If Job can be thankful in that horrible of a situation, I have no excuse.

I have so many things to be grateful for. I’m grateful that I am a mom if even for a short time–I have many friends who have not had that blessing. I’m thankful for my wonderful family, husband and step-children that I love as my own, a roof over my head, food in the cupboard and work for my hands to do. What more could I want?

I’m also grateful to my father for going out on a limb in 1953 to start Glen-L Marine Designs. This business has been the facilitator of dreams and memories for our builders over the years which is truly humbling. So many lives have been enriched through the process of building a boat.

Who would have imagined the impact that Glen-L would have on so many lives. I am truly grateful that I have the privilege of carrying on this business and hope to someday actually feel as though I deserve it. That’s something I struggle with. Since I’ve inherited this business and didn’t directly start and build it, it hasn’t been earned. Another value instilled in me.

I ddn’t mean for this to be religious and since most of you know what I’ve written, this is a first. I’ve attempted to avoid writing about religion and politics although both are a large part of my life. But I must reference religion again as I compare my undeservedness of Glen-L with the gift of salvation given by God. It isn’t something we can earn because if it was, it would no longer be a gift but something owed to us.

I’ve received the “gift” of Glen-L from my father and I am so thankful for that and will strive to live up to that legacy. Each of you is a part of that legacy and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and really reflect on all you have to be thankful for. Even in the tough economy and with many of you still looking for work and income, I hope you can be a “Job” too. There are always blessings we can count…