The idea of taking one day out of the year to eat well and think about what you are thankful for really, really appeals to me. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, if not THE most favorite. I like the Thanksgiving menu and the whole idea behind the holiday. I think about the Pilgrims and what they had to go through – can you tell I am an immigrant? I know the feeling of looking back on my first year in a foreign country (Sweden and then the US) and knowing God’s protection and blessing has been upon me.
Having said all that, Thanksgiving should happen every day, in my opinion. Personally, I have chosen to write down ten gifts I already have in my life – every day. It’s a great reminder to walk away from discontentment and into the attitude of gratitude.
Because, let me tell you, I need reminders. I forget how blessed I am. Freedom of speech, for instance. Here I am, blogging away, whatever I want to say, whenever I want to say it. It’s hard to believe that for the first 15 years of my life I lived in a Communist country where media censorship happened by definition.
How about health? Sunshine? Food? Shelter? An Internet connection – access to lots of information which could only be accessed at the library a few years ago? So many things to be thankful for.
Now what about sickness? Rain? Being laid off? Do you have the faith to trust that seemingly negative events in your life will turn into blessings later on? You see, everything can be seen as a positive element. It only takes faith.