The Halloween costumes are stored away and the moldy jack-o-lanterns are thrown out. Time to think about gathering in Christmas presents. After all, earlier this week, we lunched  at White Castle to the accompaniment of Christmas songs!

Perhaps you’re like me. You want to scream, “What about Thanksgiving?”

Thankfully, that is one of the holidays our forefathers saw fit to establish—a country of people with hearts of gratitude. I wonder when those with atheist leanings will protest this holiday. After all, who are we thanking for blessings?

Ah, but I digress. 

My main point is that I want to urge us to enter this season (and all the time for that matter) with hearts of gratitude to our heavenly Father. Let’s think in these next three weeks of some practical ways of carrying that out.

One of my favorite times of prayer is in the car—with eyes open, of course! Before I turn the radio on, I pause to talk to the Lord. May I suggest that we make that kind of time to spend in thanksgiving.Let’s see what endless list we can make.

For this week, let’s focus on material blessings. Mine often starts something like this:

– Thank you for this car and that is running well and I have gas to keep it going.

– Thank you that I can have a hot shower anytime, unlike others in our world who have to wait every two days to get two hours of hot water. 

– Thank you for the sunshine today and the way it cheers my very soul.

– Thank you for clocks that keep me on track for the day. Help me make good use of the time you give me.

– Thank you for music and the joy and inspiration it brings.

You get the idea. Having grateful hearts is pleasing to the Lord and helps spark our awareness of his blessings.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

Well that’s it for week number one of gratitude. Short and sweet and easy. Can you promise yourself every day to give some time to thanksgiving? The very act will be a blessing.

I look forward to hearing your revelations!

~ Joyce ~

On a side note: Many of my friends are in great mourning this week because of the election. Many are rejoicing and filled with great hope. Others are watching cautiously and praying that the heart of our new president-elect will be touched by God’s Spirit. Let us add to our list, thanksgiving for our great country, pleading for God’s wisdom and direction.