Giving thanks this time of year can be cliche.
Health.
Family.
Employment.
Provision.
Friends.
This year has brought true gratitude for each one of these items for us.
I don’t say this lightly.
Searching for a new job over the last year has meant being thankful for each project, each moment and each conversation along the way this year. I am grateful for each little piece of the journey and for what I have been able to be part of this year.
We have had some great getaways, day trips and family time. In the midst of uncertainty and the unknowns of what is coming next, we are thankful for the time and the opportunities we have had to spend time with our family, our extended families and our friends this year.
This is only one of many times we have given thanks this year, and we are truly grateful.
I have had two Facebook friends write and comment about how difficult this Thanksgiving will be, spending the first holiday without a close loved one. The loss is real and the pain is deep. Gratitude can look different, and we need to remember.
Remember your friends, your co-workers, your neighbors who are giving thanks in a different way this year and may be mourning in the midst of gratitude.
Give thanks on their behalf for the memories they carry, and share encouragement and support with them during this season.
Like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, this is a holiday we should use to help us celebrate all year. Give thanks today and keep giving thanks tomorrow, because we have so much to be grateful for.
Thanks for reading. Go and give thanks.
