An Attitude of Gratitude

Hello Blogland! Well, I originally wrote this post for Thanksgiving week, but it still holds true now, possibly even more in this worldly season of excess (otherwise known as the "holidays").  I spent the Saturday before Thanksgiving working with my church's outreach ministry to pack and distribute Thanksgiving food baskets and winter items in our community.  God allowed me to be a personal blessing to someone during that outreach, and I am ever amazed at how he goes before you and makes provision, sometimes for others through you.  Even with all the crazy in my own world, it always feels good to be a blessing to others.

Which leads me right to the subject of this post- gratitude. This is the time of year where most people shift their thinking towards helping others, which goes right along with being grateful for what you've got.  

It is something that I've tried to instill in my children since they were small - to always be appreciative of what you have because there is someone who wishes they had what you have.  Even when we don't have everything we want or even everything we're used to having - always be grateful.

So that said, here's my gratitude list at the moment:

1. A roof over our heads
2. Plenty of clothes to wear
3. Food to eat
4. A few really, really good friends
5. That my parents are still living
6. My son's early admission and scholarship for college
7. My daughter's good grades
8. That my kids are not problem children
9. A wonderful, teaching ministry at my church and wonderful church family
10. That I am healthy!

Now does making this list cancel everything that is not picture perfect in my life? Of course not! But, it does keep me from focusing only on what's not right and allows me to focus on what is right.  And that's good enough for me.

While we are talking about gratitude, this is a good time to talk about a December challenge I saw on Pinterest:  The 31 Day December Joy Challenge.  You can read about it at http://spirituallyhungry.com/joy-challenge-december/.  I will be incorporating this into my December Daily this year.  If you don't know what December Daily is, you can read my post about it last year at http://www.hollaatdarvi.com/2015/12/it-shall-be-well.html. 

So stay grateful and joyful during this Holiday Season and remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season!  I can't leave you without a song, so here's an oldie but goodie, "Be Grateful" by Walter Hawkins. 

What are you grateful for? Holla @ Darvi and share!  And, as always, be blessed! xoxoxo