A Time for “Thanks Giving”

It’s November…

Thanksgiving is just around the corner…

An inspired holiday created by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to provide our nation with a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens”.

Each year some of my Facebook friends spend each day in November saying thank you for different people, events and other things in their lives. It is a custom that has grown to be an anticipated portion of my days during that month. I enjoy reading what others are thankful for and considering my own life and the things I can share with them. Many posts are the expected appreciation for family members, jobs, and homes. Other times it might be something very recent or emotional.

Sometimes the posts are humorous…

others bring a tear…

ALL are treasured by me as I look into the lives of my friends and family.

Many see our holiday as “Thanksgiving”… a day off from work (truly something to be thankful for 🙂 ), time spent with family (not all feel this as positively about this as I do), a BIG dinner (wish everyone had even a fraction of this privilege). But… as wonderful as all those things are… I’m most thankful for the time of “Thanks-Giving”. Not just a day, but an extended period of time when many sit down in a quiet moment (although some of us have very few of these… another thing to be thankful for 🙂 ) to reflect on something that they can be thankful for. These moments don’t come often enough for most of us. We blunder through our days just trying to make it through and call it good if we can avoid, dodge or “miss” tragic events. But I praise all those who take a moment to consider what they have, even during the trying times and the tragedies. Ponder on the positive people and things that we have in our lives. Acknowledge the wonders that God created just for us and for our enjoyment. Contemplate how our lives would be different and how much we have or could have if we made some God-led changes.

Take a moment today… maybe several moments over the course of the upcoming month… maybe even consider making this a daily activity for…. maybe forever. How would this change your perspective on your life? How much more would you cherish those people in your life?

I’m thankful today for a God-fearing President who started a tradition of giving thanks. I pray that your Thanksgiving will be a blessing for you and your outlook on life might be a little brighter.

Compassion

Compassion…  A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Compassion… An awesome definition. Sometimes we simply need to remind ourselves about the underlying qualities of such character traits and we can see and also appreciate those qualities in others.

Look around you today… think about the individuals in your life that exhibit Compassion. Think about those who have it at the foundation of their souls. Then… sometime… soon… Thank them for the things they do. It doesn’t have to be verbally… we can show our appreciation to others in many ways. Be creative… but take the time to show them that they are loved and appreciated. ……..

Thank You!!!!