Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. What does this truly mean to you?
- Does it bring up anger, bitterness, or resentment?
- Do you feel overwhelmed or unsettled?
- Does this make you feel lonely or sad?
- Does it fill your heart with gratitude and thankfulness?
- Does it mean forgiveness, love, and togetherness?
I have several friends and relatives that tend to see mostly the negative in everybody & everything. They complain about everything from the Holidays to their families and friends. When I am around them, I always feel exhausted and drained, and I find myself being more negative myself. Although this upsets me at the time, it truly does help me to refocus on my blessings and it makes me re-evaluate ME! I think about how sad it would be to see the “evil” in everyone & everything. How unsettling it must be not to see or appreciate the good in others, nor the blessings in your life.
{Proverbs 11:27} If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!
These people tend to wallow in self-pity because they hold on to their hurts and mistakes instead of forgiving and healing…they live in the past! They are too blinded by their anger, bitterness, and/or sadness to fully recognize their blessings and the people that truly love them and are there for them!
{Jeremiah 5:25} Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all these good things.
It makes me feel grateful that I am able to heal & forgive, even if I don’t forget! I use my hurts & scars as lessons; lessons that are testimonies to my faith & strength that may give others hope! It makes me proud to see how my lessons & mistakes helped shape me into who I am today! I am full of gratitude for my blessings, for another chance, for peace, love, and happiness!
Although we should be grateful daily, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on your gratitude, to take a serious look at all the people and things that are good in your life and Thank God for them!
{Psalms 105:1} Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
Some people are grateful for less than you have and some people are praying for less than you have! Some people who are all alone would give anything to have someone in their life that truly cares for them! Some people who suffer from a chronic illness would love to have your health & vibrancy! Some people who are without a home would be grateful for a bed, any bed!
Although, as humans, we “want it all” and tend to focus on what we do NOT have or what we want, we don’t always take the time to be recognize and be thankful for the blessings we already have! Focus on, appreciate, and cherish the little as much as the big things: God, family, friends, your health, your homes, food, clean clothes, employment…and the list goes on.
Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses. Focus on your character, not your reputation. Focus on your blessings, not your misfortunes.
~Roy T. Bennett
When we forgive and focus on being thankful we gain peace and happiness! When we practice gratitude, we train ourselves to recognize and value our blessings! This is not only healing, but it also brings wellness to our souls & pleases God!
This Thanksgiving, sit back and take it all in!
- Pay close attention to the laughter & the love.
- Count your blessings…
- And Thank God for each & every one!
Focus on & train yourself to:
- Let go & let God
- Live in the moment
- Cherish the little things
- Be forgiving
- Be healing
- Be loving
- Recognize your blessings
- Have an attitude of gratitude
- Thank the Lord!
- Love a little more than you thought was possible
- Be a blessing to others
Do not live in or hold on to the past, for you will miss the beautiful things of the present! Do not harbor resentment or unforgiveness, for you will miss out on peace and happiness!
Do not let anything keep you from loving others well: unforgiveness, scars, resentment, jealousy, or anger…for truly loving others is God’s commandment.
Remember that God loves us so much that he sent his one & only son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for our sins, so we may be forgiven and have eternal life. WOW…God showed us the greatest gifts…the gifts of love & forgiveness, so we should love & forgive like God does!
{1 John 4:11} Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.
ALWAYS COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS & THANK GOD FOR THEM! Do not stay silent about your blessings…shout praises of thanksgiving to the Lord!
God gave you a gift of 84,600 seconds today. Have you used one of them to say thank you? ~William Arthur Ward
If you focus on and appreciate your blessings, you will see more blessings!
The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings. ~Henry Ward Beecher
I pray that this post finds you well? May you recognize & appreciate your blessings, and may you all be blessed with peace, love, and happiness on Thanksgiving & everyday!
Have a blessed & Happy Thanksgiving ♡
