What are you Thankful for?

The Mahpiya Luta Times Staff. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

What are you Thankful for?

By Jen Brave Heart ‘14

It only comes once a year and this time it’s actually okay to gain a few pounds. You couldn’t be any more thankful for being surrounded by family, friends, football, and food. Thanksgiving is finally here! Students return home from school, families gather together, football games are on the big screens, and delectable food is prepared for all the hungry stomachs.

Thanksgiving is a very significant time of the year when everyone comes together to celebrate the things they are grateful for, or just to give thanks to the turkeys for filling their stomachs. Not many people know the real meaning behind the holiday, besides the fact that they were celebrating the first meal the pilgrims ate when they arrived in Plymouth.

Every family has different traditions and rituals by which they celebrate Thanksgiving. Numerous amounts of people watch football games, others prepare different dishes to bring to the feast, and some people don’t celebrate Thanksgiving at all. Numerous students were asked what their family traditions were and the responses varied from “We eat turkey,” by Rhiannon White Eyes, to “Our family prepares their own dishes. Like my sister brings pie and I make the mashed potatoes,” spoken by Genriel Ribitsch. Although Thanksgiving is a time to feast and enjoy time being surrounded by family, it is also a time to give thanks to the things we are grateful for.

“I am thankful for life, water, and Jesus Christ. I am thankful for Sister Connie. I am thankful for life, family, and friends.”

These are some of the various things students are grateful for. Although the list seems short, everyone is grateful for something and someone. Although we don’t show it everyday, the gratitude we have is always there. Not everyone is fortunate enough to celebrate Thanksgiving so we would like to share our gratitude with those who aren’t able to have a Thanksgiving this year.