Even now, as I key the words for today’s devotion, the aroma of cornbread dressing seeps from my oven to penetrate the room. Thanksgiving is a week away. Because I am blessed with such a large family, I’ll be enjoying several Thanksgiving meals – starting Saturday – thus the cornbread dressing.
The Season of Gratitude is here.
Just last week I looked out the window of my home in the Northeast Georgia Mountains to realize that most of the beautiful, color filled leaves have released their hold on the trees surrounding my house and have wistfully floated down to the ground. My husband waits daily for all of them to fall so he can take care of the yard in one afternoon. The holidays are here and with them come a potpourri of emotions.
Thanksgiving and Christmas have always been such a special time in my life. I love family. I love the idea of family, I always have. I love big tables, decorated, china place settings and fine crystal. I love cooking until 1 or 2 in the morning. I love the smell of a smoked turkey and pumpkin pie. And while through the years the look and feel of my family has changed, the Norman Rockwell appeal has not.
Here are some tips to let those in your family know how grateful you are to have them in your life:
- Put away your cell phone. Leave it in the car! Give your family your full, undivided attention.
- Offer to help – either setting the table, cooking, or cleaning up. Many hands make light the work. Play some Christmas music and enjoy the preparation together.
- Talk about the good things in your life. Don’t delve into the negative. Make a choice to be positive, not bitter.
- If there are family members who challenge you, refuse to engage in a disagreement. Stay focused on what you like about this person, even if it is something very small.
- Keep television to a minimal. You don’t often have all your family together. Do something everyone can enjoy.
- Don’t be in a hurry to eat. Savor every bite and complement the hands that prepared it.
- Use the time for gratitude. Tell people what they mean to you and thank them for what they’ve done for you. Avoid rehashing past issues.
- If you don’t have family, find some. Don’t spend the day alone. There are so many lonely people on this planet, it shouldn’t be hard to put together a gathering or find one.
- Take time to play. Whether its cards, games, sports, or Barbie’s, take the time to play with those you love.
- Focus on the people who are there and not the one’s who didn’t come. Be grateful for who IS at your table. It will help with the hurt of who isn’t.
This week, make a list every day of 5 blessings in your life. Each day the blessings should not be repeated. Tape the list to your mirror. I bet you will be amazed at how much you have to be thankful.
