And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20
This week started off with the news that a dear friend from High School had died. This started my mind to whirring and sparking with memories of the interactions we had shared over the years. It's news like this that make me feel old. Yes, to some the age of 53 is a "ripe (take that term as you will) old age" and to most of us who are in that range 53 is just a new start. After all, a car with 53,000 miles on it is just getting broken in.
The more I thought, the more I remembered something about my friend....she was always grateful for everything. Even when she got cancer, I remember her telling me that "God's going to help someone through my struggle." From this friend I learned, and know remember that somewhere along the way had lost, the habit of being Thankful!
We need to learn to be Thankful. On Thanksgiving, we may have a passing thought about being thankful for the football game or the food or the fact that Black Friday will happen without my participation or some other irrelevant idea.
But what are you truly thankful for?
* Seeing a new day
* The fact that someone remembers you and thinks of you.
* The fact that you know someone and think about them.
* That I can help someone in need. Even if that means pushing them to do for themselves.
* People who have seen us at our absolute worst and still love us without judging us.
* Being able to recall the pleasant times in our lives. (Most of us seem to remember the horrible times in our lives with MUCH more clarity).
* The peace that prayer brings.
* The lessons we learn through our trials.
You see, when we develop the virtue of Thankful Thinking, our entire perspective will change. Thankful Thinking is the realization that life is NOT ABOUT ME!
Let's learn to be thankful for all things. Whether we like them or not, they have a purpose for us.
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