Happy Thanksgiving! Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year, and I imagine many would agree. How amazing it is to have a whole day dedicated to giving thanks. But of course I also feel that gratitude is something we should practice all year long, not just one day in late November.

Perhaps you have heard me mention before that I like to keep a gratitude journal. Every night I try to jot down a few blessings from my day. I have been doing this for over four years. When I have seasons where I slack off, I can see clearly how my outlook on life falters.

I find that when we give thanks to God, and even extend a heartfelt “thank you” to those around us, it is a gift that blesses the giver and the recipient. When we take note of the blessings in our lives, we see how full our lives are, and this in turn fills our hearts.

If writing in a journal isn’t your thing, that’s okay. You could silently pray a prayer of gratitude. Or if you want combine thankfulness and the outdoors, you might take a gratitude walk. Today many families will take turns around the table mentioning things they are thankful for. I think this is a beautiful tradition as well.

However you decide to approach gratitude (today and every day), the most important thing is that you simply do it. It will look different for some of us. And that’s ok. But once you make a habit of it, you will be so glad you did. When we make a decision to choose gratitude every day, we will be amazed at how many blessings we find in our lives. Our eyes will be opened to see God’s goodness like never before. And our hearts will be filled with joy.

I hope you and yours have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas