Practicing Gratitude at Thanksgiving

There’s a turkey to brine, bathrooms to clean, tables to set and lists to check. Thoughts like these consume us each November.
But have we lost the most important part of the Thanksgiving holiday? How sad it is that these get most of our attention. It’s understandable that planning for the day’s celebration is necessary, but please remember there’s so much to be thankful for.
Be thankful for family—we may argue, but it’s a far cry from sitting alone in a quiet room alone. (Romans 12:10)
Be thankful for health—each day is a gift, even if we received a bad report or have more aches and pains than possible to count. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Be thankful for friends—they help carry burdens when we’re all but overtaken by weariness. (1 Thessalonians 3:9)

Be thankful for good fortune—if you sleep inside at night, remember there are many who do not. (Ephesians 5:20)
Be thankful for our Heavenly Father—even if you’re not on speaking terms, it’s wasn’t him who walked away. (Revelation 3:20)
Be thankful for His great love for you. We have so much to be thankful for even beyond the examples offered above. We have the opportunity to see eternity. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV)
Happy Thanksgiving, dear friend. I am thankful for you.