Thursday, November 25, 2010

Be Thankful

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection… a day to remind us to always be grateful for everything!  A friend sent me this poem and I felt the need to share it with you:

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

No matter what situation we face in life, there is always something to be thankful for.  Even if we don't have that much as far as material things, there are still so much things to appreciate. It can be non- material things…things that are not seen…things that to some, seem insignificant – loving family, true friends, love, good health, emotional stability, peace of mind, spiritual fulfillment, etc.  These are all priceless blessings from God that we often take for granted. It can also be things that we didn’t get or that didn’t happen - illnesses and financial problem that didn’t come our way, those losses we didn’t experience, accidents that didn’t occur to any of our family members. For me, these are things that we should be more thankful for. And though, it’s so difficult, we should also be thankful for all the tough times in our life. Tough times could bring us so much pain but they make us grow and show us the love and power of God. Everything happens for a reason and God wants us to realize this, and be thankful for everything whether good or bad. He wants us to learn to be content in whatever circumstance we are in. He wants us to look to our current and past challenges and failures and find something positive in there, and give thanks for it. This is what full gratitude means, and this is what Thanksgiving Day is all about.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! May today bring peace and contentment within you…May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be… May you turn your whole life over to Him and never cease to give Him thanks…May you keep gratitude alive in your heart and make every day Thanksgiving Day!!!