Faith Matters: Gratitude is an attitude

Give me a few minutes and I could think of 50 more.

Apparently, that's unusual. Apparently, a lot of people have few if any trustworthy people in their lives.

In an informal poll, Century21.com asked people whom they would trust with an extra house key. Nearly 5,000 people responded.

The results: Only 58 percent said a family member.

Only 8 percent said their best friend.

Only 7 percent said a neighbor.

And 15 percent said no one.

Those results surprised and saddened me. They also made me realize I have a lot to be thankful for, things I've never thought of before.

Gratitude is an attitude and you can choose to have a good one or a bad one.

For example, you can complain about Bill Clinton or George W. Bush. Or you can be grateful that every president is limited to two terms.

So, in keeping with the holiday spirit of gratitude, here are some of the things I'm thankful for this year:

Arnold Schwarzenegger won't be making movies for a while.

Jerry Springer won't be making laws anytime soon.

We still call them French fries.

I eat fewer of them.

Baseball is greater than the greed of its players and owners.

So is America.

The Ten Commandments can't be overruled by a judge.

The Bible can't be amended by Congress.

Now that I'm on the Do-Not-Call list, I have a reason to speak to telemarketers.

Soon, I'll be on a Do-Not-Spam list and I'll have a reason to reply to Spam.

U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. is a role model, not just a politician.

U.S. Sen. Bill Frist is a role model, not just a politician.

Judaism is greater than the current state of the Israeli nation.

Islam is greater than the current state of the Arab nations.

Memphis is as well known for its kosher barbecue as its regular barbecue.

The water in Memphis is even better than the sauce.

Hollywood doesn't make all the movies.

Britney and Madonna don't make all the music.

Blessed are the peacemakers.

War is hell.

Al Green is back.

So are the University of Memphis football Tigers.

Saddam Hussein is no longer in power in Iraq.

Donald Rumsfeld is not in power in Iraq.

My 19-year-old son decided to go to college.

My 21-year-old daughter decided not to go to grad school.

Pope John Paul II is still with us.

So is Billy Graham.

God made the world, not the other way around.

Christ is head of the church, not the other way around.

I know people I can trust with a key to my house.

I have a key to a house.