Today, America pauses to celebrate and give “thanks” for all the many blessings our country enjoys.

This is an interesting time in America to say the least.

Deep political and ethical divides separate millions of Americans from one another.

The results of the recent presidential election highlight that with the bright bold colors of red and blue.

America must work hard — from both sides — to find common ground and heal the wounds of our differences, exposed so clearly in the presidential campaign.

Thanksgiving Day is a great day to begin this healing process.

America — even with its current warts and deep differences — remains a great country.

Do we have problems?

Certainly.

Do we have amazing assets as well?

Most definitely.

Foremost among those clear, special assets is our Constitution, which sets forth the myriad of liberties we hold dear.

Those liberties include the right to vote as well as the right to protest. We’ve seen both good and horrible examples of those liberties of late. But let us not forget that many, many people of the world lack those freedoms.

Our country is working through growing pains, not terribly unlike similar pains felt for periods throughout our history.

We hope and expect, however, that these pains will work themselves out through finding common ground on which to build up our country, rather than more rhetoric and divisiveness that tear us down.

We hope you and your family have a happy Thanksgiving Day today and a bright future ahead through the Christmas season.