Being Thankful
By Stephenie Cox –
The holidays are upon us – such a busy, festive time of year. I love Thanksgiving most of all. There are no gifts, there are no big parties, only families and friends getting together and appreciating what God has done for us. It is a wonderful time to reconnect, forgive those who have harmed you, hug those who have stood by you, and most of all, to have an inner peace that everything is going to be okay.
The Thanksgiving feast is a picture of abundance. Fall vegetables and fruits take their honorary place on the table being prepared to show off their flavor. Just the right turkey is selected after much debate on whether it should be roasted, fried or smoked. Old family recipes and new ideas from your favorite cooking show meld together into the hope for a delicious feast. But this year, let us go into Thanksgiving with a spirit of gratitude. Thanksgiving is more than the beautiful table setting and fabulous meal. Here are a few thoughts on being thankful:
Don’t Take the Ordinary for Granted
When you are stuck in traffic, and the little hairs on the back of your neck are standing up, be thankful that you have a car, that you can afford to put gas in your car and that you are not standing at a bus stop as the storm rolls in. It is truly a joy to have your own transportation, your own comfortable cocoon getting you from one place to another.
Recognize the Blessings
When your teens or young adults are going through tough trials, be thankful for the life lessons they are getting. Without those lessons, how will they ever get to be the wonderful person God intended them to be? These trials are blessings as they grow into themselves and become part of the adult world.
Embrace the Parental Chaos
When the kids are screaming and fighting, be thankful for the little bundles of joy. Know that they are learning how to socialize, and who better to try out a new attitude on than your sibling? After all, they don’t fight all the time, and they sure look like angels when they are asleep.
Manage Your Time and Money
As the overwhelming feeling of no time to take care of minute things such as paying bills, be thankful for the ability to pay bills. Remember that simply paying bills and meeting basic needs feels like a luxury to many.
Holiday Meal Preparations Require Patience
When shopping for the Thanksgiving Feast and the grocery store is hectic, out of what you need, the check-out line is unbelievably long and the person at the counter reaches deep into their bag to get their checkbook and slowly write their check in their best handwriting, try patience. Instead of wanting to discuss what debit cards are for or getting upset with the clerk because your favorite bread is out of stock, take three deep breaths, close your eyes and be thankful that food is so readily and abundantly available. Be thankful that you can afford to fill your basket with delicious foods for your family. Remember, there are many who go hungry.
Extend a Helping Hand
Most of all, know that with much blessing comes much responsibility. Be thankful to have the energy, the resources and the time to help others. Big or small, every little helping hand is important. Know that there are people out there that a smile could work wonders for. You never know what is going on inside of them or what trials they are going through. So, whatever your giving ability may be, be thankful you have been blessed to be a blessing.