Monday, November 21, 2011

The Season of Gratitude

This is a repost from last year at this time...I thought it was a good reminder for us all!

What does Thanksgiving mean to you?  Turkey and all the trimmings?  A day off work?  A time for family and friends to gather around the table?  Black Friday shopping?  Christmas music starts to play non-stop on all the radio stations?  These things all come to my mind, but this year I want it to be MORE.  I want to really celebrate Thanksgiving as its own day set apart from the other things that we may associate with it.  I want to make it a celebration of gratitude.  I found a definition of gratitude on line that really got me thinking:

GRATITUDE:  The state of being grateful; warm and friendly feeling toward a benefactor; kindness awakened by a favor received; thankfulness.

Did you notice words benefactor and favor received?  The celebration of Thanksgiving is a reflection of our gratefulness of all the Savior has done for us.  He is our benefactor and the favor we have received is the gift of eternal life that He offers to us!  How could we not want to celebrate this day in its completenes?  Not a hurried meal with our family so we can move on to the next event.  Not spending all day planning our shopping trip the next morning.  But being Thankful to the One who is our giver of life.  Showing our children what true thankfulness means...honoring Him for His kindness to us.  Don't pass by the day that has been set aside for us to say Thank You to our Creator! 

 I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us—  Isaiah 63:7a


THIS is what I am thankful for this year...
My babies last year...I've got new pics
coming later this week!

 

17 comments:

Heidi said...

I love that definition of gratitude! What a wonderful benefactor we have to be grateful for!!

Unknown said...

Hi! I found your blog on FaithBloggers. I want to spend Thanksgiving Day, and everyday, being thankful to the One who is my giver of life. Every blessing I have is from Him. Thanks for posting this!

Unknown said...

very inspirational thanks for the post.
I am your newest follower.

Rachel Olsen said...

Oooooh, my benefactor - I love that thought! And what cuties you have in that picture, no wonder you are thankful. :)

I pray your Thanksgiving has a thick richness to it this year, Allison, as you revel in gratitude towards God.

Shelly said...

Great post! Thanks for sharing! Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Kandi said...

I love the definition you used for gratitude. Have a great Thanksgiving and many blessings.

Maurya said...

What a great post...I love new words to remind me of what things mean. Benefactor.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Maurya

Debbie Giese said...

Hi there! I just read that definition online and pondered using it...glad I read your post first, lol! I love the part about kindness wakened by a favor received...makes me think of "We love because He first loved us." Enjoy a beautiful holiday with your adorable kiddoes!

Jen said...

Kindness awakened...makes you wonder how often we miss it...

Beautiful words & beautiful kids.

Unknown said...

Great post and adorable children! Thank you for sharing this with us!

Stacy @ Heartprints of God said...

Gratitude.....kindness awakened by a favor received. How can we ever measure the kindness of our Lord? Thank you for opening my eyes to a whole new level of thanksgiving!

Caroline said...

I love how active "gratitude" is and that you've focused on that involved nature here! Thank you for this post (and sharing your beautiful kids).

Eileen said...

Beautiful reminder, Allison. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Jenifer Metzger said...

I love this Allison!

Ken said...

Awesome post Allison. We have so many things to be thankful to God for, lets not rust through the day in a hurry to get to the next event.

God bless you and Happy Thanksgiving,
Ken

Crystal Mendez said...

God bless

Heidi said...

Wonderful re-post Allison. May we carry this idea of Thanksgiving into every day of the year! Hope your Thanksgiving was blessing in every way!