The leaves are changing colors, the air has become more crisp and cool, and I’m in denial that summer is over. While the nip in the air requires us to break out the warmer clothes, it also brings about a time to slow life down just a bit. Halloween is over, the election is over, we just celebrated Veteran’s Day, and we now look to Thanksgiving. Can I be honest? I hate how we seem to jump from Halloween straight to Christmas commercials and hoopla. Don’t get me wrong, your girl LOVES Christmas time, but my heart saddens that we seem to skip right over Thanksgiving. It’s not just one day of remembrance that we should rush through.
Too often we can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, living almost on auto pilot. We forget to enjoy the smallest moments. Thankfulness can be found everywhere if we take the time to stop and look. I’ve been challenged to view every day through a lens of thankfulness. I want to challenge each of us with the days that we have left, to wake up, and before we check our phones for the day, PAUSE and out loud name at least one thing we are grateful for. Here’s my list so far and in no particular order:
- My health
- My husband and family on both sides
- Food (yes, even with this crazy inflation)
- Insurance that gives me peace of mind
- My belief in God and the love He has for me even when I don’t deserve it
- Fall scents and activities, especially pumpkin and caramel
- My home
- Reliable transportation
- Steady and healthy job
- Community that is encouraging
- Freedom as an American citizen
- Laughter
- My pups
I’d love to hear what’s on your list! And I want to encourage you this chilly season, to stop, listen and consciously be thankful for what you have been blessed with. Don’t get me wrong, I know that it’s possible this is a hard and dry season for you, but I still believe with all my heart, that we can still find grateful moments. An old proverb said, “Give thanks for a little, and you will find a lot,” and in the midst of giving thanks, your heart will swell and a smile dance across your face remembering the good that is still present.
