I gave out the tiniest laugh as I read these words penned by Stan and Jan Berenstain aloud to my eldest daughter. Any parent could relate to this.

My 5-year-old had picked out The Berenstain Bears™ Get the Gimmies for her bedtime book. The timing was ironic, yet most fitting. In the last week we had received both the Walmart and Amazon Christmas toy catalogs in the mail. 

She was quick to grab a pen, circling all the “most favorite” toys she wanted. Within a day, the pages were covered in ink, and she was ready to mail in her requests to Santa.

We continued reading about Brother and Sister making a fuss to get what they wanted until Papa sits them down to talk about “counting their blessings.” 

I paused. 

“Do you know what it means to ‘count your blessings’?” I asked her.

“No.” she replied. 

I read the next line. “It means ‘enjoying the things they had instead of forever wanting more and more and more.’” 

This children’s book quickly became a lesson for me, too. How can I can better model gratitude and a thankful heart for not only my daughters, but for all those around me?

A time to be thankful

Approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we have lots to be thankful for in the Angus breed. High demand for Angus genetics and Angus beef is top of mind, but the community built around the Angus family is enviable. 

When counting our blessings, we also must prepare for what’s ahead. In this issue we are focusing on herd and health — something that’s critical wherever we are in the cattle cycle. You’ll find tips from managing heifers to considerations for grazing this winter. 

As the next generation is planning for their futures, be sure to check out some of the highlighted opportunities in the Angus breed through internships, scholarships and giving back. 

As we circle our wishes this fall, let’s remember to pause and count our blessings. This season, may we all find ways to model gratitude and prepare for the opportunities ahead.