Did you ever encounter that rare person who is always happy, and never has a bad word to say about anyone?

These rare people are always smiling and appreciative of people in their lives.They don't jump to conclusions, are slow to anger and are never drawn into gossip.Reminds me of a Bible verse or two that I can only hope to remember, but I remain stuck in kindergarten when it comes to following these directions.Reminds me of my mother-in-law Gladys who was always nice to me even when I didn't deserve it.When I met my first husband I was young and he had just divorced. Gladys would buy little gifts for his ex-wife.I didn't understand, but that's who she is. She values people in her life, and she valued the mother of her grandchildren.Years later, the man who was her son and my husband passed away. She continued to call me and buy me gifts.On my rare visits to see her at the Village of Palmerton, she still introduces me as her daughter-in-law. She welcomes me with open arms and never asks why I don't come more often.She is grateful for any time people spend with her.People like Gladys remind us of the true meaning of Thanksgiving.They remind me of a community church service more than a dozen years ago.During that time, the Rev. Matt Guedes, formerly of Palmerton and a Kresgeville-based church, changed my outlook with three words.Guedes talked about having an "attitude for gratitude."Instead of being down on ourselves, he challenged people to look upward and remember our blessings.That "attitude for gratitude" stuck with my husband Ronnie and I as he battled back after a head-on collision shortly after that service.We still remember it, though I hate to say we don't always practice it.We think of all the things that are wrong, instead of all the things that are right.As we approach Thanksgiving, I am making a list of all the things for which I am grateful.Here are just a few of them.I don't know what I did to deserve it, but my husband Ronnie is my biggest fan. He encourages me to reach higher and tries to do things that make me happy.My brothers are right up there, too.I was an only child for five years. On my first day of kindergarten, my mom was in the hospital giving birth to my brother Mike.I didn't exactly embrace this new addition to our family. I wrote notes to my mother about Mike staring at me. I excluded him from family drawings. I threatened to run away if they didn't send him back.Two years later, another brother, Mark, came along.Then it was two against one, and they teamed up against me when I had to baby-sit for them.I couldn't wait to get away to college.My grandchildren, Melody and Chord are four years apart. Melody is having some of those same growing pains. She loves her little brother, but he deflects some of the attention from her.I told her that things change as you get older and you realize who is important in your life.When Mike got his driver's license, he drove to Lancaster to pick up my cousin Gretchen and then came straight to see me in Pittsburgh.We started bonding then and never looked back. His wife, Cathy, is the sister I never had.My brother Mark is another one of those people who always has something nice to say. He's full of hugs and compliments whenever he visits from New York.This Thanksgiving I wonder how I ever got to be so blessed.What prompts you to have an attitude for gratitude? Send us your story of blessings to be included in our edition on Wednesday. Share your thoughts at

tneditor@tnonline.com. Your words could be an inspiration other people need to hear.Marta Gouger, editor of the Times News, writes a biweekly column. Email her at

mgouger@tnonline.com.