As Americans scurry to make preparations for Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday, it’s good for all of us to take a few minutes to give thanks.
In this case more is better (vs. less is more) because once we start our thankful for lists it’s easier to let a full-fledged attitude of gratitude take over our hearts.
When challenges surround us (even seemingly insurmountable ones) it’s a discipline to give thanks for what lies betwixt and between the bad stuff. It’s not necessary to thank God for the bad stuff, but for packages of grace in the bad stuff.
Some packages are easier to identify than others – love, beauty, family, friends, provisions of grace, strength to endure (minute by minute), God’s peace, joy and…chocolate.
(Chocolate may not take challenges away, but certainly helps this chocoholic cope.)
An attitude of gratitude is not something to put on just one day of the year (ie, Thanksgiving) but is something that can add meaning to each and every day. Feeling grumpy in the morning? Try being grateful for one thing…then another.
(Counteracting morning grumps can also be chased with post haste indulgence in your beverage of choice, in my case, hot tea.)
If we let gratitude infiltrate our interactions with others, it lifts them (and us) up, too.
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder… When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” G.K. Chesterton
grace, peace & gratitude attitudes
Virginia : )
Roses in the Rubble 
Great post 😁
Thank you! 🌷😎🌷
Thankful for you, Virginia. Your never-ending encouragement for me. Your love for Jesus.
So glad God blessed your trip to the Ukraine (Mel must be smiling up above!) Blessings & big Thanksgiving hugs! 🎉🤗💜🤗🎉
I like that…. take them for granted (too often for me) or take them with gratitude…. Diane
It’s a great thought (& challenge) for me, too, Diane – something to keep wokin’ on! Blessings & hugs! 🌷🤗🌷🤗🌷🤗🌷
beautiful and timely too- Always such peace and beauty in your posts-thank you.
Thank you, Michele- hope your Thanksgiving is blessed with extra doses of grace, love, joy, peace & special treats.. Hugs!! 🌷🤗🌷🍰🌷🥧🌷💕🌷
I’m with you on the chocolate!
‘Tis the season for daily doses of hot chocolate (but all varieties of dark chocolate are welcome!) Blessings (chocolate treats inclusive) 🌷😎🌷☕️🌷🍫🌷
Great post, thanks for sharing it! Hope your Thanksgiving has been blessed with God’s love!
Steve.
Thanks for your holiday greetings, Steve. Our Thanksgiving was filled with lots of love – all my siblings came (from near & far) + nieces & nephews (including our great nephew Lincoln (@ just 3 months old the life of the party!) Blessings to you up in freezing Canada! 🇨🇦 🌨 🇨🇦 Virginia
p.s. I love your blog!
Our daughter tells me she was thankful for the opportunity to have a few more hours in bed at Thanksgiving!
That sure sounds nice (extra sleep on Thanksgiving) – there’s always so much to do the day of (even after being in the kitchen late Weds nite) that I tend to get up even earlier than usual. Thankfully everything turned out ok! 😴🦃😴
Very true. Thank you for sharing
An attitude of gratitude is not always easy, but can help us approach the tough stuff in our lives from a better place. Blessings! 🌷🌟🌷
So true! I have also written a blog on the topic.