Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, just the word conjures up good feelings. I don’t think that you could even say the word in a grumpy or grouchy way. When you hear the word, thanksgiving, do you think of turkey dinners, pumpkin pie, and time spent with family? There’s nothing wrong with that. This time of year, we all probably think of these things.

I love Thanksgiving Day because of what it represents, a day set aside for us to stop and give thanks for all that we have. But we don’t have to wait for this one day each year to do that. We can make thanksgiving a mindset. We can make it a part of each and everyday.

Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary gives the following definitions for thanksgiving:

1: the act of giving thanks

2: a prayer expressing gratitude

3 a: a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness

b: capitalized : thanksgiving day

Interesting isn’t it that Thanksgiving Day is part of the last definition?

Thanksgiving is the act of giving thanks. That’s pretty simple. We thank people everyday. Sometimes we probably say “thanks” without really even thinking about it. It’s just part of what we do in polite society. But I challenge you to look for opportunities to say a heartfelt “Thank You” to someone each day. You will probably make that person’s day. And in the process you’ll find yourself looking for the good and positive things in every encounter with someone.

Thanksgiving is also a prayer expressing gratitude, which in my mind is really just lifting up a heartfelt “Thank You” to God for his blessings, which are endless. God’s blessings are all around us each and everyday and as we recognize them we need to lift up a prayer of gratitude to thank God for the particular blessing. You will be amazed at how you’ll feel when your heart is filled with gratitude.

So, thanksgiving doesn’t have to be limited to just the fourth Thursday of November. That’s just the day that’s set aside for the public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness. I’m very thankful that we have such a day in this country. But in the year ahead let’s make thanksgiving a part of each and everyday.

I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving Day and a wonderful year of thanksgiving!