November represents a season of thankfulness.
This month is when we are reminded of just how much we have to be thankful for. I looked out the patio door and saw a beautiful carpet of colorful leaves. Rather than grumbling about the mess they’d made, I felt blessed. I am alive with eyes to see just what happens to a tree in Autumn. I have hands to touch them and feet to make them rustle underfoot.
Start a thankful list this year.
Notice I say start a list. Leave it open-ended and put it where adults and children alike can add to it all month long. Every day we find many things to be thankful for. I’ll begin mine with a baker’s dozen. By month’s end there should be well over a hundred thankful thoughts on the list.
- The air I breathe
- The salvation I have in Jesus Christ
- My husband
- My children and grandchildren
- Close friends and caring neighbors
- My church family
- Telephone service
- Running water
- Electricity
- A car
- Smoked salmon
- Clothes in the closet
- Sunsets
Give thanks for all things.
Will you join me? There is something wonderful that happens inside our soul when we pause to give thanks; to reflect on our blessings instead of counting our woes. Our countenance finds its source of peace. God draws near. The thankful list is a simple visual lesson we can pass from one generation to another. The early settlers of our country had it right when they stopped for a day to feast for the sole purpose of giving thanks.
There’s no substitute for grateful hearts pouring out thanks to God in the presence of friends. And a table filled with tasty foods satisfies the tummy, too.
Psalm 9:1 NIV I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
