Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

“Give thanks with a grateful heart,” as a popular Christian song goes. This song is a Christian song, and highlights our thanks for Jesus, God's Son, and all that God provides for us. 

We have so much for which we can be thankful. Being thankful acknowledges that which does not come from yourself. Thankfulness ultimately recognizes that God created everything, that He keeps everything going, and that He loves us. And for 

The energy of being thankful and giving thanks can be a way of life that brings you to new heights of living. 

Even if apparently “bad” things happen to us, there is always something for which we can be thankful. In the act of being thankful, we are drawn away from the opposite, like grumbling, complaining, being jealous or envious, or worse - ungraciousness and ungrateful bitterness. There is always something for which we can be thankful. 

There was the story of the Arminianist (who believes in the free will of man) and the Calvinist (who, simplistically believes that God causes all things to happen). The Arminianist fell down the stairs, and at the bottom thanked God for the fact that he wasn't hurt more severely, and for the strength he knew God would provide to help him recover from the fall. The Calvinist also fell down the stairs, and at the bottom, he said, “Thank God that's over with!” As if God had caused him to fall down the steps. They ended up both being thankful, but from different perspectives. 

You don't have to “stop and be thankful.” You can be thankful on the go, as you live each day. Even for the simplest things of life, be thankful. Water to drink and bathe in, food to eat, air to breathe, friends to know, work to do, and sights to see, and even the eyes to see those sights. It can become a way of life.  

I feel quite thankful for what I have in my life - my wife, my family, my kids, what I have been able to do in my life, what I have seen, where I have gone, and so much more. But I have done more grumbling and complaining than I should. We probably all do. But overall, I think I have become much more thankful over the years. I hope so. 

As a very real part of being thankful, think about expressing that thanks to others. Share your gratefulness to those who are part of your lives, who have given to you or helped you in some way. Think about how good it makes you feel when someone shares with you their appreciation of you or something you've done. Pass it on.

Blessings to all who have read this. I am thankful for the time you took to read it. Thank you!