The house is quiet again. But memories linger in the still-extended table, the rearranged cushions on the couch, the pile of linen to be laundered, and the turkey leftovers lurking in the fridge.
Thanksgiving Day here in Canada is today, but our family celebrated, as usual, yesterday. And my heart is full of love for my family, near and far, and for all the blessings which our good God has given to us.
Being thankful can be difficult when things don't always go my way. The Psalmist speaks about sacrificing thanks. The two words seem at odds. Sacrificing means giving up something and thanks is given for what is received. There can be a cost to being thankful - a cost to pride, to self-sufficiency, to getting my own way. Being thankful means I must acknowledge that what I have received comes from a source outside of myself - family, friends, government, God.
Being thankful is a conscious choice when I don't feel thankful. Yet I know that the very act of naming my blessings changes my attitude and my perspective. It doesn't change the circumstances.
I choose to be thankful.
Mmmm.... seems we're doing similar things today............... the washing machine is whirring as we type and we're anticipating leftovers from our feast last night.
ReplyDeleteGlad it was special for you too!
So much to be thankful about!
Choosing to be thankful....not always the easiest, but in the end, the best.
ReplyDeleteThe birds are in the oven, the vegetables are all prepped and I'm taking a rest before company arrives. We'll have our Thanksgiving dinner this evening, which is a departure after years of celebrating on the Sunday - but we must adjust to changing family dynamics, and our daughter wished to have dinner with her boyfriend's extended family yesterday. I'm conscious of looking for the gift too - Happy Thanksgiving, Lorrie!
ReplyDeleteThe Day after - it's so peaceful and I do always enjoy the turkey buns more than the meal - I have yet to do a post but thought I'd stop by and say Happy Thanksgiving to you. Your photograph of the forest is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous picture! Thanksgiving does feel like a Sunday, doesn't it? The sacrifice of thankfulness must be a lot like the sacrifice of praise. We may not feel like it when we start, but we certainly feel better when we've had some time practicing. Yes, I'm choosing to be thankful, too. A very good word for this week.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you and yours :)
ReplyDeleteMemories, the most precious we have .-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving.
The day after is good for soaking it all in...and being thankful! It sounds like you had a good one.
ReplyDeleteI just sat my 14-year old son down and reminded him that our character shows not during the easy times, but during the challenging times. The times when we want to punch a fist in the air and say I'm tired or it's not fair. It is in those times we need to learn to look around and find the positive and become better people for the effort.
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Thanksgiving.
Oh yes, we are indeed blessed. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Lorrie. Glad you had a great Thanksgiving.
ReplyDelete