It’s November, the month when our thoughts more easily turn toward thankfulness. After all, this is the month when we have an entire day devoted to giving thanks — and weeks to prepare for the celebration.
And yet, isn’t it true that when we want a reason to be thankful we don’t have to chase after “extraordinary moments” of happiness? Gratitude is about paying attention to what’s going on here and now. Today. This moment. Being present in our lives rather than running after something else … something grander … something more. I’m not saying don’t dream. You all know I believe in dreaming BIG. I’m talking about the wanting that leads to discontent and causes us to overlook what we do have — all the reasons we have to be thankful.
And gratitude also means we learn to be content with our lives rather than longing for someone else’s life. Someone else’s story. In C.S. Lewis’s novel A Horse and His Boy, Shasta complains to Aslan about why things go a certain way for him but they go another (supposedly better) way for his companion, Aravis. Aslan replies: Child, I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.
In Your Words: What helps you practice gratitude?
[ctt template=”8″ link=”PJvBm” via=”yes” ]In Others’ Words: Practicing Gratitude http://ctt.ec/PJvBm+ #InOthersWords #quotes #gratitude @bethvogt[/ctt] [ctt template=”8″ link=”AnJpH” via=”yes” ]”I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness …” http://ctt.ec/AnJpH+ @BreneBrown #gratitude @bethvogt[/ctt]****
Thanksgiving’s coming and the authors over at The Grove have so much to be thankful for! Between Nov. 1-23, enter our “Grateful for Our Readers” contest for a chance to win a bundle of 8 books by Kristy Cambron, Katie Ganshert, Sarah Ladd, Cara Putman, Katherine Reay, Melissa Tagg, Courtney Walsh, and me! To enter, just click on the image above or enter here!
[ctt template=”8″ link=”lv2j2″ via=”no” ]Enter the Grateful for Our Readers #bookgiveaway! Thank you from @theGrove_story authors to you! http://ctt.ec/lv2j2+ #chrisfic[/ctt]
Comments 6
I have so much to be grateful for…
One recent thing that comes to mind is a friend that I saw in the grocery store. I went to high school with her, so she’s my age and we go to the same Bible study class. She’s a nurse, her husband owns his own concrete business. They have a beautiful house but she said they would probably never get to retire.
My husband has planned ahead and invested well. We are both retired now and though we don’t have the very nicest and fanciest of things, we have all we need, and then some.
Author
Gail: The best thing about what you said? You and your husband are content with what you have. That makes such a huge difference in being thankful.
I was sitting on my deck, grumbling to a friend about how much my medicine cost, and my friend gently reminded me that God had blessed me with the ability to pay for it. Since then I’ve tried to be conscious of my blessings.
Author
Pat: It is true that medicines cost a ridiculous amount of money these days. But it is also true that we can often afford to pay for them — and that we live in a country where we have medical care.
Pain produces gratitude. The more I hurt, the harder I push myself, grateful in the understanding that while this is my decision, there are others who don’t have a choice and whose agony is inflicted and prolonged at the perverted pleasure of others.
Such good words here, Beth. What helps me practice gratitude? Making the choice that I’m going to look for things in every day that I can thank God for. Whether it’s the red, red leaves, or the accident God spared me from, or the fact that my son chose to open up to me about something and God gave me the words to help him? When He brings hubs home safely from a business trip…. I’m choosing to look for those things I can thank Him for each day.