We’ve all heard the old saying to “count your blessings.” To many of us, that saying sounds corny and overused, and we go about our merry ways. We start to take things for granted.

Thanksgiving, for me at least, is a time to step back and reflect on those blessings that I take for granted. There are the usual things like family, friends, and food; there are also everyday things that, when I think about them, realize how different my life would be without them. Here are ten.

1. Books — without them I would not be exposed to the ideas and information of great thinkers before me.
2. The Internet — without it I would not be able to hunt down information nearly as quickly, or build and maintain relationships with people around the world.
3. Running (purified) water — without it I might be dead, or at least very thirsty.
4. Music — without it I would not appreciate art and beauty.
5. Cars — without one I might not have been able to work through college and graduate debt-free.
6. The Constitution — without it I would not have the freedoms I have today.
7. Glasses — without them I could not see, and could never have scored my first (and only) goal in YMCA soccer as a boy.
8. Education — without it I would not know what I know (and what I do not know), and would not have the job I have now.
9. Dreams — without them I would not have entertainment while I sleep and burning ambitions for tomorrow.
10. Salvation through Jesus Christ — without it I would be hopeless and dead in my sins.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18, ESV)