PETER JOHNSON, JR.: Today, and Every Day, We Give Thanks

As seen on "Fox & Friends" on Fox News Channel, Thursday, November 25.

There’s not a more hopeful time of the year in the most thankful nation in the world than the fourth Thursday in November.

In one way it’s not different from every other day when we are over and over thanked, beyond our capacity to even acknowledge it: thanks for your patience, your service, your understanding, your concern, your support, your help, your comments, your questions and most importantly thanks for watching.

We are either the most polite or most insincere group of humans ever put on God’s earth.

But I’m a believer--especially at Thanksgiving-- in the natural goodness of people. Experience tells me that we are more sincere than polite. Today we prove it.

Our sincere desire to acknowledge the contribution of those we may not know or even like defines our national character. It’s demonstrated every Thanksgiving when our tables are joined by surprise guests who need a friend or extended family to share the day with. -- Very often it's a person who we never imagined would join with us for Thanksgiving dinner and a football game.

And each of us understand that the momentary awkwardness of the moment is transformed into a memorable and ennobling experience for host and guest alike -- when there is no more heartfelt expression of gratitude than, to say "thank you for spending the time with me.” Because as different as we may be -- separated by religion or race or party or blood or belief each of us relies on give thanks for the same wonders of life.

For all of us, we give thanks for a mother’s strength, a father’s love, a spouse’s devotion, a daughter’s adoration, a brother’s courage, a friend’s empathy.

As Americans we thank God for a soldier’s insistence, our doctor’s encouragement, a police officer’s understanding of human nature and a firefighter’s refusal to accept the laws of nature.

As humans we give thanks for the eye opening surprise of innocence and for the relief accorded by forgiveness. For the belly laughs that make us cry, for the tears shed that make us stronger. For the shared heart, the helping hand, the supportive voice and the answered prayer.

We each give our own special thanks and prayers, too -- for me – it’s thanks for a juror’s understanding, a judge’s patience and a viewer’s trust.

Like you I’m not quite sure what new friend will join our family table this afternoon. I do know that if and when the door bell rings, the door will swing wide open and we will give thanks for what we have and what we can become -- together.

From all of your friends here, we thank you for letting us join you at your breakfast table on this and every other day we give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Peter Johnson Jr. is a lawyer and Fox News legal analyst.