POST THANKSGIVING

Oh, give thanks to the LORD,

for He is good!  For His

mercy endures forever.

I Chronicles 16:34

Sitting here in my comfy chair in the corner of my livingroom, I'm recalling a scene in my house this last holiday Thursday.  I saw children of varying ages playing in and outside, coming and going with usual activity.  In the kitchen area around the table were adults, young to me because three of them are my children.  Their spouses were there along with a few others.  They were talking and laughijng, enjoying one anothers company.  My first thought was about Brian not being here and if he were, would be as observant as I was.  What a joy to witness it all.

Everyone has gone to their homes.  I have some leftovers in the freezer I hope to enjoy in some upcoming days.  The house is quiet and I must admit, I love the quiet but so enjoyed the activity.  I've always loved Thanksgiving as a holiday, but at the same time find myself wondering why it takes a holiday to emphasize a spirit of gratitude.  Even that gratitude can get lost in the food, football games and other activities on a specified holiday.

I did one of my acrostics that I think can apply to us everyday, not just on one day.

T-ake...H-eart...A-nd...N-otice...K-indness...F-rom...U-nusual...L-ocales.      Perhaps it would benefit us to pay more attention to daily blessings God so abundantly pours into our lives on a daily basis, often coming to us in unusual ways.

We may not have the usual trappings of the holiday...day off from work, sweet aromas coming from ovens, families enjoying each other's company, but why can't everyday be days of gratitude and thankfulness?  These post days, perhaps we need to add two words to our daily vocabulary and use them frequently...THANK YOU.  Our first big thank you on a daily basis should be to our Heavenly Father; then extending honest thank you's to those we meet and greet on a daily basis.  In it all, no turkey and dressing is required.

A BIG THANK YOU,  Heavenly Father, for Your goodness in our lives...a goodness not one of us deserves.  You've given so much and we so little but we love You and want to love You even more.  Help us to have an attitude of gratitude everyday we live....in Jesus' precious name....Amen