"Here's a little something for your supper," the lady said.

"Thank you very much," said Jim. On arrival home, he opened the package and told his brother, "Isn't that marvelous, a delicious apple pie!"

"What's so wonderful about that?" said Dick. "You can get one bigger than that at the bakery for 75 cents."

"I know, but this was for nothing, and it was baked especially for me. It makes me happy all over. It's wonderful to me."

"Well, I can't see anything so wonderful about a little pie."

"That's it," said Jim, "you just don't get it."

One of the tragedies of life is that many folks just don't get it. That is, the kindness of neighborly consideration and the appreciation of the efforts of others for all the little things that make life worthwhile.

As we ride our beautiful cars, we often fail to see the inventor, the laborer, the mechanic, the distributor, the road builder, the traffic policeman and the road cleanup crew. As we enter the bakery and take our piece of delicious pastries, we don't see the farmer, the harvester, the flour maker, the baker and the clerk.

We live all too selfishly -- not seeing how many thousands contribute to our health and happiness and we fail to give thanks.

We ought, more than once a week, to be on our knees saying, "Oh God, how grateful I am for Thy many kindnesses."

Thanksgiving and Christmas make for joyful seasons because we pause to consider the wisdom and joy of gratitude.