Clothe Your Heart in Thanksgiving – Building your faith

“Gratitude means to recognize the good in your life, be thankful for whatever you have, some people may not even have one of those things you consider precious to you (love, family, friends etc). Each day give thanks for the gift of life. You are blessed” ― Pablo

I watched her from a distance. She was admiring some gloves and a scarf. Gently placing them down, she walked off. Finally, I caught up to her and asked how her shopping was going. “Oh, I liked those gloves and scarf, but there was no hat that I liked to go with it” she replied. The following Saturday we went shopping again in a different town. Same thing happened, but this time it was reversed; she found the hat, but no gloves or scarf to match. 

It was three weeks away from Christmas. No, she didn’t know it, but I went back to both stores and bought all three items that matched. I am not sure if she remembered what she looked at from the prior store. Therefore, I secretly wrapped them up and placed them in a box and tried my best to wrap them in Christmas wrapping paper. Carefully and methodically I placed it under the tree. 

Awakened by the children, we got up the next morning to the screams, that Santa came. Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I proceeded to the living room. The children were asking if they could open the presents. A glance in both of our directions, we smiled and nodded, yes. The excitement was there with bright smiling faces. 

She looked at me and asked, “What is this”? We weren’t supposed to do anything for each other that Christmas and we were to get gifts only for the children and to help an unfortunate family that year. “Open it” I replied. She carefully opened the package and a big grin began to form. “How did you know?” she questioned. 

The Father knows what we need in our life before we even begin to look or think of things we want in our life. Life is a gift. Full of surprises and twists and turns; we wait sometimes in anticipation knowing what is coming, or we wait in silence or worry. 

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect upon this nation’s blessings of food and friendship. Every day should be a reflection of thanksgiving, regardless of the fates we suffer. Either we can see a glass half full or half empty, but we can still be thankful we have a glass. 

Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him and praise His name. -Ps 100:4 NLT

There is a blessing in being thankful: not only in the good times, but even in the bad situations we are put in. You may not feel like being thankful for the hand you were dealt, and I wasn’t at one point in time. Yet, I am still growing and learning to be thankful in all things. When given a hard blow in life (divorce/death) you begin to learn to appreciate the small gestures someone does for you.

You begin to lose sight in being thankful if we stop praying or if we focus on the tragedies or problematic situations we are in. I had to learn that rainbows are made through rain when the sunlight hits it. My tears had to be brought to His light in order for there to be a rainbow of promises that he is working on me and developing me into something better than what I could do for myself. 

There is a positive impact on others when our life is shown in gratitude. Dr. Dyer expressed, “With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.” In my own research, I have found through other scientific studies, that when you write down at least three things you are thankful for 21 days, you sleep better, become happier and more optimistic. 

Look for the little things in the good and bad and become thankful for them. They become the cornerstones and pillars to lean on when the storm hits. It builds your faith in knowing that while you were looking for a gift, He has His own gift in mind far greater than what you can pick out. 

Clothing can keep you, your hands, neck and head warm, but it is being thankful in all things which keeps your heart warm. Do you have your attitude on His anvil? Yes, being banged up and being shaped is no fun, when your heart is cold. Having a warm and heated heart due to being thankful, shapes you into something more than you can ever imagine. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

By Faith,