As we approach this Thanksgiving season, there are many things I am thankful for. I am thankful that God loves us. Yes, we are all sinners. As the apostle Paul has written, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

In spite of this, God still loves us. He loved us so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die a sacrificial substitutionary death on the cross — to shed His blood on the cross for the remission of our sins.

I am thankful that it is so easy to be saved as Billy Graham has preached many times concerning personal salvation. First, accept that you are a sinner. Then, realize you can’t save yourself. Last, receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord.

I am thankful for the many outstanding churches in LaGrange. I believe in the church. I was brought up in the church. Without the church, I would not be the man I am today.

I sometimes write about politics in this newspaper. What is most important is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I am thankful for America. America is still the best country in the world. Are we perfect? Absolutely not. But, if you compare America with all other countries, it is still the greatest.

There is a lot of controversy today concerning whether or not people should stand for the national anthem. When the national anthem is sung or played, I stand and place my right hand over my heart. I do this to honor the millions  who have died for this country. They deserve our respect.

I am thankful for my family. I was fortunate enough to have wonderful parents. Because of them I have good morals. I still think the family and the church are the two most important institutions in American society.

I am thankful for my wife, children and grandchild. My wife and I have been married for almost 50 years. I love her more today than I did when we first got married.

I served 33 full-time years as a Christian minister. During that time, I made sure that I spent a lot of time with my wife. As an effective pastor you need to be committed to your church, but you should also be committed to your wife. We all have so many things to be thankful for. The poorest American is richer than most people in the world. At this time of Thanksgiving, count your blessings.

Larry Summerour of Troup County is a retired pastor who enjoys political commentary.