It’s Thanksgiving, and already the scents from the kitchen are tantalizing me as I think of the feast that awaits us.
In our family, Thanksgiving means time with family, cooking traditional family recipes (including my mom’s famous shredded sweet potato casserole) and always trying a new one (this year it’s The Pioneer Woman’s key lime pie). We watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in the morning, share what we’re grateful for around the table, and settle in for an afternoon of football with leftovers keeping our bellies full and eyes heavy late into the evening.
I can’t wait! It’s one of my favorite days of the year for sure.
So, on this day of reflection, can I share a little secret with you?
Many of you are joining me here after connecting with one my of Parenting with Purpose posts.
Others of you are here because, like me, you’re a recovering perfectionist. Or maybe you grew up in a rules-not-relationship church environment and you’re learning along with me to embrace the love and freedom Christ offers as we grow in faith daily.
No matter your reason for spending time here at Embracing the Mosaic Life, we all share one thing in common. We all struggle. Your struggle may not look exactly like mine but the fall from perfection in the garden of Eden put us all on the same playing field. We’re all broken and we all struggle.
My struggle lately has been a struggle with anxiety and fear. It comes and goes in waves at the most unexpected times. Maybe your current struggle is with something altogether different, but I’d venture a guess that most all of us could say we’ve struggled with anxiety and fear in some area of our lives in the past.
But today as we gather for food and fellowship, I’m reminded that we already have the remedy, (the secret ingredient, if you will) to our fears and worries.
All of us can cultivate a grateful heart.
Being grateful, remembering to reflect on our blessings, not our worries, our failures, or the unknown, is what centers us, pulls us back to the truth of God’s word, and gives us peace.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
As I work through my own struggles, I challenge you to identify an area in which you’re struggling and take one practical step to cultivate gratitude. Write in a journal, reflect on scripture, call a friend, or say a prayer.
Enjoy today with family and friends. Take a moment to let gratitude shape your day, your attitude, your mind, and your heart.
And from one struggling but grateful woman to another, have a wonderfully blessed day!
P.S. Check out the suggested gratitude resources below and be on the lookout for a special holiday edition blog post with my favorite online deals, complete with some exclusive coupon codes & discounts just for you!
Suggested resources:
Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal
Printable Scripture Art Printables/Coloring Sheets for Thanksgiving {free}
100 Creative Ways to Say Thank You to Your Husband