For many people in the world, this has been another disappointing year. No matter how the economists measure it, in practical terms, the global recession continues. Unemployment, war, poverty, disease, hunger, and homelessness remain universal issues. Divisiveness continues to impede solutions. It gives pause as we head toward America’s annual season of thanks.

If we’re not careful, we can get so caught up in our worries and woes that we forget our blessings. Lately life’s stresses have been weighing me down, but the other day a wise friend reminded me the constant through all my difficulties is that I’ve been loved. And that’s defnitely a reason to be thankful.

 “Love is, above all,the gift of oneself.”

—Jean Anouilh, dramatist

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

—The Bible, Mark 12:31 NIV

“Love never claims, it ever gives.”

—Mohandas Gandhi, Indian leader

“What a grand thing, to be loved! What a grander thing still, to love!”

—Victor Hugo, novelist

“Love … includes fellowship in suffering, in joy, and in effort.”

—Albert Schweitzer, physician, philosopher

“The essence of love is kindness.”

—Robert Louis Stevenson, author

“All you need is love.”

—John Lennon and Paul McCartney, singer/songwriters

“The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.”

—Hubert Humphrey, vice president of the United States