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Sometimes we don't know how good we've got it.

Right now, you hear a lot of complaints about the election, the high cost of gasoline or hundreds of other problems. All of these concerns are nothing when compared to the problems Americans have faced in past years.

Maybe we complain about the present because we have forgotten the past or, possibly, we don't care about the past. Most of us are too tied up in the present to appreciate the challenges that have faced our nation in the past.

I was reminded of this fact last week when Jean and I attended the performance of "The Sanders Family" at the New Theatre Restaurant.

The play is set on Christmas Eve, 1941, just 17 days after Pearl Harbor and the declaration of war by President Franklin Roosevelt. Those of us under the age of 70 have a hard time understanding just how bleak that Christmas must have been. For many families it was their last holiday together, ever.

"The Sanders Family" is a sequel to the popular "Smoke on the Mountain," which was the longest running comedy in Kansas City history. The play continues the saga of a musical family that performs in small churches in North Carolina. This time, however, they are dealing with changes accompanying the start of World War II.

It should be remembered that in the late 1930s, the fear of war and the depression brought about a revival in the United States. People were turning to religion and there were lots of evangelistic groups such as the Sanders family touring the United States. The groups had good entertainers who brought gospel music to areas well away from the big cities.

Interspersed between great gospel music and humor, there was a message. In 1941, the United States faced huge challenges that were translated down to individual sacrifice. People were leaving for the military and many didn't return.

As I watched the performance, my mind raced back to my own experiences in 1941. I was only four at the time, but I remember that my favorite uncle and his family came to visit us in early December. It was the last time we saw him alive. He didn't return from the South Pacific. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sorrow.

Yet, I left the play feeling very good. I wanted to say "thanks" to all of those men and women who faced the challenge of defeating our enemies. We owe them so much. Beyond that, "The Sanders Family" is simply great entertainment. It's one of the few plays that is funny, entertaining and yet has a message. It is well worth seeing this holiday season.

"The Sanders Family" continues through early February. For tickets, call 649-SHOW (7469). What all of this comes down to is that we forget just how fortunate we are today. We live in the best time ever in the history of the world. We have more money, more leisure time and more security than those from any other time. We have a higher standard of living and better health care. The average American today lives at a much higher standard than our parents did 60 years ago.

Yes, we face problems today, but I firmly believe we will solve them and no, I have no fears of the future. It's too bad we aren't as optimistic about tomorrow as we should be.

This is a good time to take a few minutes and count our blessings and it is also a great time to enjoy the beauty of the Christmas season. There is so much that is good in our society, it's unfortunate that we dwell on the small part which is bad. Maybe the best gift we could have is a new sense of appreciation and optimism.

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