Remembering some 'amazing things' at Thanksgiving posted Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 @ 8:14 am  E-mail Story |  Print Story  By Rev. Robert Lee Jr. At our church we sing "give thanks to the Lord for His mercy endures forever." Looking back over my life, I think of many things, amazing things. My great-grandmother use to say, "I'm broke and thank God for it." As a child, I couldn't understand how she could be thankful for being broke. Today, looking at my life, I am thankful for what God has brought me through. I remember when World War I ended in 1918 when the Armistice was signed on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour (Nov. 11, 1918). Bells rang. Whistles blew. People shouted in the streets thanking God the war was over. I remember the Great Depression in the 1930s when 25 million people were out of work. I got married during this time -- June 20, 1937 and my marriage last 63 years, nine months and 21 days. My wife and I never had a fight and we were blessed with four sons who never gave us any trouble. For this I am thankful. During the Great Depression, banks closed, farmers went broke and cotton was sold for a nickel a pound. My Daddy bought a cow and a calf for $25 and paid for it in installments. I worked for nine cents an hour at the Holloway sawmill. I remember when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor during World War II on Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 1941. I survived that war. I remember when blacks were not allowed to sit or eat at certain cafes or sleep in certain hotels. Thank Heaven things have changed in my life. Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would live to see a black man become President of the United States. My great-grandmother said these days would come. She would say, "The bottom rail will come to the top." She was born a slave and she could read. But her words of wisdom still live with me as I strive to be thankful in all things. My great-grandmother would always give thanks "for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Let us be thankful and remember that God is good all the time. Have a great Thanksgiving and may God bless you. (Editor's Note: Rev. Lee is 95-years-old.)