This morning, I am reflecting on an awesome Thanksgiving week one last time before we slip into the Christmas season. I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to move into a giving spirit when I am full from a grateful heart. And that’s what I’m feeling today – very full and very grateful.
Is everything perfect? Absolutely not! But now is not the time or place to write that story. That will come later.
Today I am thankful for extended-family fellowship I enjoyed yesterday. I am thankful we all arrived and returned home safely. I am thankful I heard my mother chuckle about my Rooster Bowl story. I am thankful to share sweet time with my sisters and their families and all those big and little young’uns as the family continues to grow.
And I am thankful that I am touched by beautiful music that inspires me to write and reflect. Right now, my favorite rendition of Away in a Manager (Kenny G) is filling the air in my upstairs room.
And so, as we pass from a thankful heart to a giving heart, I am prepared to give away up to twenty-five autographed copies of Reflections – one to each person leaving a “grateful” comment on this post. That’s all you have to do. You don’t have to be present to win and there are no strings attached. If you already have a copy, you can pass the gift along to another.
So leave your “grateful” comment. I will follow-up with a personal e-mail to receive mailing details from you. The e-mail address you leave will be used for no other purpose – and that’s a promise!
Wonderful post! This season I am most grateful for families who open up their homes and hearts to people who may not be related by blood, but are made to feel that they are. The past few years I have lived over 1000 miles from my family and have a difficult time getting back to visit as often as I’d like. The holidays are a time meant for family and I am saddened when I break family traditions by being unable to attend. But thankfully, I have been absorbed by a wonderful family in the area and made to feel one of their own. It makes all the difference!
Great post! I believe that a thankful heart, not just at Thanksgiving time, but all of the time brings us peace and freedom in our minds. Trials are easier to get through if we stop and look for the good in each challenge that we face. Dwelling on our difficulties keeps us all bound up inside, but a thankful heart is as good medicine.
Thank you for the heartfelt holiday sentiments! I am thankful for my lovely wife and my unborn baby. We get to find out if it is a boy or girl today! It has been a hard journey, not completely sure that we were ready for parenthood or if that was what we wanted. The Lord has turned our hearts around and now we can’t be happier about it. We know our child will be a blessing not only to us but to other around it. There is so much to be thankful for as I enter this holiday season. There is no looking back!
I have learned this past week that I am grateful for life. There are so many times that I feel torn as a Christian. The older I get, the more I feel like Paul where he talks about wanting to die and go to Heaven but he knows that God has a plan for him on earth. What a plan He had, too! I feel like I have been very selfish lately in wanting to just lay at the feet of Jesus. What I have been forgetting is that He’s not ready for me yet. He still has a plan for me here. We attended a funeral over the Thanksgiving week of a 12-year-old boy who’s funeral was filled with testimonials. This child took his Bible to school every Thursday trying to lead others to Christ and start a Bible study. There were numerous accounts of him helping others and bringing a smile to the face of those around him. This is who I aspire to be like! I want to live my life to the fullest while here on this earth just like this 12-year-old. His funeral consisted of over 750 people where they were also able to hear about the gospel and the extraordinary life of James Kay. So, today I am grateful for the life that God has given me and now I’m ready to live it!
I am grateful for so many things. I feel grateful to be alive and to have found wonderful friends through the interaction of blogging and the internet.
I am extremely grateful for being able to spend the past week with all three of my daughters as a family just being together and enjoying one another. Savoring the laughter, sharing our life experiences and what lies before us. True time spent in reflection. We are at a season in our lives where life and traditions as we have celebrated them in the past and the dynamics will soon change. One daughter has been in the career world 5+ years and may soon add a husband. One daughter just completed her masters and enters the job career world with a move next week. The last daughter is mid way through her sophomore year of college. While life as we have traditionally enjoyed our holidays may change I know that the love and strong bonds we share as a family never will. I am excited and thrilled with the possibilities for the future. The sweet time of grateful fellowship truly places my heart in a giving spirit. But, not necessarily the giving of monetary gifts… I so what to give the gift of love and share the joy of family and the overflowing abiding love of Christ! The giving spirit goes far beyond the Christmas season.
I have a copy of Reflections–thanks for that. But this is a generous gesture and a lovely sentiment. Thanks for that, too. –mm
Well sister of mine I am greatful for my family naturally. However, this year I am extremely greatful for the advances in medicine. As you know Tom is going through health challenges but we have the LUCK ( for lack of a better term) in that Medicine has come a long way in its treatment for him so that his days on this earth will be extended and also promises of a better quality of life.
All of the books have been mailed. You should have them soon. I enjoyed reading all of your “grateful” comments. Thank you for sharing and participating!
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