Thankfulness Goes a Long Way!

So very thankful am I for God's blessings on my life. My life is abundant and full. It's only just a few days before my family gathers around for a traditional Christian Thanksgiving feast.

A meaningful thing we've done in the past, is to spend time rehearsing all the things we have to be thankful for. After a while, you'd think that we were special or something.

However, as we've all made a point to center our lives around the Word of God, and intentionally live our lives as a reflection of the living God --- loving others as ourselves --- and doing our best to surrender to the Will of God --- our lives really are continuously filled with thanksgiving, joy and peace --- even when bad things threaten to shake up our lives.

The word of God says that the "rain falls on the just and the unjust". As a result we don't spend time licking wounds. We don't live our lives in denial either, when things are going wrong, or even against us. We don't say to ourselves, or to anyone around us that we "have no problems". However, we live thankfully, joyfully and in peace despite what we face. That's one beauty of putting our faith and trust in someone bigger than ourselves.

Meanwhile, most folks around me are starting to gather for annual Thanksgiving festivities. I have a fun family and this is a tiny number of them that are spread literally around the world.

Here's a shot from my uncle's 80th Birthday celebration five years ago. The lady on the far right in Navy blue is my mom Neva --- affectionately referred to as "The Neva". She was my primary financial backer back in the day. The others include from left to right, back to front: Chris (Carolyn's husband), my Uncle Marion, my Aunt Dorothy, and again my Mom; Carolyn my cousin with son Kevin in her lap and finally Kyle in the center. Such a nice bunch of folks they are!

Yours for an abundant Thanksgiving holiday where you can count your blessings, and let your blessings count!

Jay