Welcome to the month of November. It’s time to stop and examine our spirit of gratitude. We all have so much to be thankful for. We celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving to remind us how much gratitude we should feel.
First, we give thanks for each day and the gift of life. Each day that we are given reminds us to live life to the fullest one day at a time. The principle of “one day at a time” teaches us that we are all equal. No matter how much we plan we don’t know about tomorrow. One of my favorite prayers I say each day is my prayer of gratitude.
“God, I am grateful for what was. Hopefully I’ll be open to learn from the past. Please allow me to let my history be my teacher. God, I am grateful for whatever will be. I pray that I’ll also be open to whatever lies ahead. Hopefully I’ll be able to face the future with courage and hope. Finally, God, I’m grateful for today and pray that I will remain open for whatever you have in store for me. I hope and pray that I can face my journey in the spirit of gratitude. Thank you, God”
I’m grateful for all the teachers God has sent into my life. I realize that each person who crosses my path is a guide He is sending my way. Even those people, places, and things I experience which are negative have been sent so I may learn the tools to deal with them with a spirit of gratitude. I have so much for which to be grateful. God has sent so many special teachers into my life, beginning with my first teachers, my parents. Each leg of my life’s journey has had its positive and negative experiences. Once again, hopefully, I can look back on them in the spirit of gratitude.
The holidays are coming, a time for gratitude for everyone. So many times, we forget what Thanksgiving really is; a time of giving thanks and a time to share our gifts and talents. We are given this day as a reminder of a spirit of life that should be inside each of us. Stop and think about all the gifts we’ve been given in our lifetime and for each gift we have the responsibility to share with others. Sometimes we get caught up in football and food during the holiday and forget the true meaning of the “Thanks” giving. Each day should be a day of Thanksgiving. Please take time each day to say thank you for life and at the end of each day take time to thank God for all the experiences of the day.
Here are some phrases that teach us gratitude:
But for the grace of God. Sometimes we think things are so bad and then someone or something comes along that is worse off than we are. Even in our struggles we must be grateful for the tools we have to deal with difficulty. Think positively, do your work, and things usually work out.
Easy does it. Take life slowly. Don’t worry. Do what you can and remember if you do the footwork you’ll be led and guided. The journey of life will take you where you need to go. Don’t try to control life, just be grateful and open to what God has in store for you. Remember the old principle, “Don’t worry, be happy, enjoy life.”
We have so much to be grateful for. Remember, at the moment of our birth God gave us everything we need for life. In the spirit of gratitude, it’s our responsibility to discover the gifts we already have. Our purpose and journey in life are to experience a spiritual awaking and as we awaken to our gifts and talents, it’s our responsibility to share them with others.
This Thanksgiving take time to give thanks for life, for love, for struggle, for discovery, and above all give thanks to your God for the wonderful and sometimes confusing spiritual journey we are following. Give thanks to all those people in your life who taught us so much about living. Try, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, to open your mind to new adventures and growth.
Remember; be grateful for what was, be grateful for what will be, and be grateful for what is. Gratitude will get you through each day.
I wish a happy and grateful Thanksgiving to all of you and to your families. May you be blessed in this special season of gratitude.
