Thanksgiving

Several years ago I started a personal Thanksgiving tradition that I have continued for all the years since. It had been a particularly stressful year, and I was reading Paul's letter to the Philippians where he wrote these words

 Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God... whatever is true,
                                                whatever is noble,
                                                whatever is right,
                                                whatever is pure,
                                                whatever is lovely,
                                                whatever is admirable
                                                 if anything is excellent or worthy of praise,
                                                 think about such things. (Philippians 4. 6, 8)
After reading those words, I just started listing all the things from the previous year that I had to be thankful for, that in some way met the criteria that Paul outlined in his letter. When I got done I had three pages, two columns filled with names, events, and other things in my life that I was thankful for.

Since then, every Thanksgiving I continued this practice, and each year, I amazed at all have to put on my list, regardless if in my mind it was "good" year, or a "bad" year. So I have learned that there are many blessings.

So take time to give thanks - you may be surprised how much will be on your list!