Did you know you have a huge, extended family in the community?

That’s right, each of us has thousands of brothers and sisters living, working and playing all over the Miss-Lou.

Sure, most of them may not be blood-related to one another, but we’re siblings nonetheless.

Like most siblings, we have a tendency to fuss at one another, even fighting occasionally. But don’t let those sibling rivalries and spats get the best of us.

Despite all of the fussing and feuding that can seem to be all too commonplace in our community, we all have much more in common than we have which separates us.

This applies to almost all aspects of our community and perhaps these commonalities are best seen in several events that happen this time of year.

Two community-wide Thanksgiving services will occur today — one at noon and one at 7 p.m. — with the aim of bringing together members of the community, to say “thanks” and celebrate a common love for one Creator.

Thankful brothers and sisters will gather together at noon at Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchez and at 7 p.m. at Bethel Church on Airport Road in Vidalia.

As the Rev. Darian Duckworth, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, said last week, “I think the most important thing is for us to realize (is) we’re all thankful for the same things, and most importantly, the God we worship.”

The only thing better than having lots of brothers and sisters is to have the ability to set aside the silly differences with one another and be able to say “thanks” together.