Thursday is Thanksgiving Day.

That it comes a little more than three weeks after an election that has, in some ways, made divisions in our country only worse does not mean the day should not occur.

That it comes as a day when shoppers already have turned their focus on Christmas, causing some people to be more concerned about savvy shopping than about giving thanks does not mean the day is not special.

It is a holiday whose name requires no definition beyond the words that make up its very name: Thanks. Giving.

Are we approaching the holiday in an attitude of thankfulness? It’s easy to be caught up in a national mood of opposites at loggerheads on literally every issue, in an economy that statistically is improving but may not seem to have done much for our personal wallets, in what some say is a disfunctional national government, crumbling infrastructure or social media malaise.

It takes just a little effort to look beyond that into our personal reasons to give thanks. Family, friends, life itself all are reasons to be thankful. If you’re able to experience the traditional holiday of food, family and football, then you’ve got a trifecta that should lead to greater thanks about much more in your life.

People who stand with us in good times, but, more important, are there when things go bad, good meals and a warm place to stay every night are among true blessings, and that must always be remembered.

Sadly, we’ve reached a point where political differences have caused the end of friendships and led to family members making the choice to sever ties from one another, decisions which do little to heal wounds and often only make them deeper.

If you are employed, be thankful for your job, and, please, remember those who are not as fortunate.

Which brings us to the giving part. Yes, we are called to give thanks. But as the traditional kickoff to the holiday season, Thanksgiving is a time to think about those who don’t have what we may have. It’s a time to provide for others from our time, talents and abilities, to reach across all those dividing lines of politics and race and religion and economic status to help and to listen and to recognize that we’re all human beings and we’re all Americans.

Which is reason enough to be thankful because Americans, when they stop fighting with one another long enough to truly be a unified place under the flag, can achieve anything.

Be thankful that we can worship as we choose, disagree with our government and elected officials and decide for ourselves how we will lead our lives, things that most of the people who live on Earth can only dream of.

Be thankful that there are men and women who are willing to stand guard around the world in the name of the United States of America, defending the freedoms we all too often take for granted.

So give thanks. Give. And be thankful.