A Season of Thankful

Here we are another holiday upon us, Thanksgiving. I know many of us skip decorations for this holiday and go straight into Christmas. I defiantly do this myself. Our Thanksgiving mostly only consist of eating turkey at the table with family. However, this year why don't we stay in a season of being thankful. Continue your traditions and put up your Christmas tree, but in the midst of it all keep your thoughts on being in a mindset of being thankful. I know a lot of us have faced challenges this year losing family members, health issues, scares, job loss, decrease in finances, divorce, etc. The list of challenges can go on and we need to acknowledge those things by mourning and learning how to move forward. Everyday take a few moments to focus on things you are thankful for. Maybe even write these down. I know everyone's list will look different, but I promise there is something in everyone's life to be thankful for. Spend time with others and be thankful for the friendship and relationship you have with them.

Recently I attended a women's study group with my church. After that meeting and hearing each of us share our journey I came out humble and thankful. We all have had a life full of disappointments and things we didn't expect would happen. However, my biggest take away after our gathering was all the ladies had a smile on their face. After all they had been through and even the things this year has brought to each of our lives we were able to smile and be thankful for where we are today. Take time to talk to someone and hear their journey I promise it will be an eye opener. As humans we are so resilient and able to over come things we never thought we would. I am so thankful for the people that are in my life and those that aren't. Each of them had a purpose and a meaning. Even people that brought pain and heartbreak they made me stronger and made be realize what I deserve. Pay attention to those that support you and have stuck by your side. Acknowledge how blessed you are to have these people in your life.

In a time full of stress and unknowns lets choose to be thankful. Thank the community helpers who work all the time even on holidays, the stranger who ask if you need a hand at the store, or for that friend that answers the phone every time you call. We are blessed even when we are stressed. We are thankful even when we don't know what tomorrow brings. If we all stay in this mind set we can all get through this together. So as two major holidays approach us lets not focus on what we are going to eat or what we are going to get, but how we can show gratitude.

A few suggestions that I will do is in my prayer journal everyday write what I am thankful for. Take time to tell those close to me I appreciate them. With my children in our prayers every night include what we are thankful for. Our Christmas cards we will write our gratitude for that friend or family member we are sending it to. We will be involved in our church community programs that focus on giving back to others. I hope we will discover many more ways to show how thankful we are. The purpose of this is to always see the blessings in situations and to not take those blessings for granted.