Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

The following is a Guest Post by Lee Jones

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving is traditionally known for time with family and friends gathering to share a really good meal and enjoy fellowship.   This Thanksgiving take time to reflect and appreciate your many blessings.  All too often we forget about the ‘little’ things that we have been blessed with and forget to count these as ‘blessings’.   We always wish we had this or wish we had that, but never being mindful of all the blessings that have been bestowed upon us. 

Count your blessings each and every day, not just on Thanksgiving and stop taking things for granted.  Make’ giving thanks’ part of your daily ritual for things you already have.

Oprah Winfrey said it best.   “Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more.  If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

This year has been a challenging year for most of us.  The economy is still recovering, unemployment rates are climbing with more job losses predicted for this month, and foreclosures continue to rise, especially with more adjustable loans doing just that, adjusting.  It’s no surprise that many find it difficult to find a reason to be thankful.

History always has a way of repeating itself.  After a recession, comes a period of prosperity.  Hang in there, there is light at the end of the tunnel, even though the tunnel seems endless.

What do you give thanks for in a time of crisis and uncertainly?  If you haven’t really thought about it, here is a list of things you should be thankful for each and every day….not just on Thanksgiving.

Be thankful that you work up this morning to read this blog.  Somewhere in the world, someone wasn’t fortunate enough to rise to see the sunshine or greet their family.

Be grateful that you know the difference between right and wrong and hopefully chose right all the time, regardless.

Be blessed that you can read and write.  Not everyone had the opportunity to go to school to learn basic reading, writing and arithmetic.

Be thankful that you have friends and family that support you in some way, whether they lend an ear to listen, give advice or are always there when you need them.  There are those that are lonely and have no one to turn to for support or guidance.

Be grateful that you have your health and can take the next breath.   Many are less fortunate battling illnesses and diseases that they may never overcome.

Be thankful if you are employed, that you have money coming in to support your lifestyle.  There are hundreds of thousands that have lost their job, through no fault of their own, and have no income to support their families.

Be blessed if you are able to keep a roof over your head.  Many people are facing foreclosure or are homeless and are without hope.

Be thankful that you have your freedom to voice your opinion; many people are persecuted for just speaking their mind.

Be blessed that you can gather for a Thanksgiving meal.  Many struggle to put food on their table to feed their children.  Many will have nothing to eat on Thanksgiving Day.

After carefully examining my life, here are my blessings every day, not just on Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for having a wonderful family and beautiful friends that support me mentally, spiritually and emotionally.  It is through them I find the strength to move forward and overcome obstacles.

I am blessed with a loving husband that I continue to grow with and who supports my dreams.  Thanks for being patient with me.  We will continue to prosper as we take steps forward, not backwards and plan for our future.

I am thankful I have my health each and every day.  Although I’m getting older, have gained a few pounds, feeling a few aches and pains, I am more fortunate than others that have no feeling at all in their lower extremities.

I am truly grateful for being employed.  I have a wonderful job that I thoroughly enjoy, that is challenging and rewarding.   I have a great boss and supportive teammates who I consider my ‘second family’.

I am truly blessed to have furthered my education, thus knowing I have options in life, especially in determining decisions that impact my future.  There are those that never had the opportunity to learn basic reading or writing and unfortunately in some countries many are even banned from attending school.

I am grateful for learning lessons, sometimes learning them the hard way…..that helped me grow to become the woman I am today.  Life can give you lemons, and I have learned to make lemonade with a twist.

I may not have everything I want in life, but I am truly blessed with what I have, and I am humbly grateful for it.

This Thanksgiving season, give your time and give of yourself.  Give back to your community by volunteering your time at a food shelter, feeding the homeless, read to those that are educationally challenged, donate articles or clothing to someone who has none, give to a worthy foundation that helps others or just invite someone that has recently lost a loved one to dinner.   This Thanksgiving, make a difference in someone’s life.

Look beyond Thanksgiving Day to give thanks for your blessings.  This Thanksgiving, appreciative what you have, not what you don’t have or want.  Everyone is thankful for something.

What are you really thankful for this Thanksgiving?

You may provide your feedback in the comments section below, and I THANK YOU in advance.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and may God bless you all.

Image credit: Children’s Ministry – Downtown Church of Christ – Searcy AR.

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