“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”
Henry David Thoreau
What if we all expressed our gratitude and thanks 365 days per year? How different would the lives of those around you be? Daily thanksgiving could change the world…
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.”
Maya Angelou
The beauty of gratitude is that it pulls you into the present moment. To be grateful you must be aware and the richness of the world that exists around you right now. To be thankful for all the blessings you have requires that you let go of the temptation to live for the future and revel in the richness of the present moment.
On this Thanksgiving Day take the time to pause and be fully present and aware of the incredible blessings that you have been blessed with. It is a beautiful day! Happy Thanksgiving!
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.”
Melodie Beattie
When in your life have you been the most grateful? If you take a moment to look back and think of a time when your “gratitude overflowed” what was it that you were grateful for? Who were the people, the gifts, or the blessings that created that degree of gratefulness?
It can be so easy to get lost in the pursuit of “more” and the comparison trap with others. When one takes a step back and considers all the blessings you truly have, the rest just seems to drift into place.
What is it that prevents you from having a sense of gratitude each and every day?
“It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do.”
Tim Keller
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is a time where all the demands of the world seem to pause, if just for a moment. Even though it can be stressful with cooking and cleaning and preparing for guests, it is work that is enjoyable and rewarding because of what it stands for; a celebration of thanks for all the incredible blessings that we have received in life.
Reading and reflecting on the quote above makes me ponder on the power of Thanksgiving, on the actions taken because of our gratitude. Perhaps that is why this particular holiday is so celebrated. It is a time when we pause to convert gratitude into action as we gather with friends and family and share our blessings.
Every day is an opportunity for an active Thanksgiving day. But just once a year we have the Super Bowl, the championship, the over the top day where we actively celebrate thankfulness. Today I hope that your Thanksgiving day is filled with happiness and gratitude.
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” Psalms 9:1