I always say my prayers, especially with Chase after we read a book. It starts like this: "Dear God, thank you for all you have blessed us with" And then, we go down the list of family and friends who need special prayers...prayers for strength, hope, healing.
And sometimes...when I am too tired to say hardly anything...I simply whisper, "thank you". And God knows...exactly what I am referring to.
But also, so many times throughout the day I thank Him. It is part of me now really...like saying "God Bless You" when someone sneezes, I say "Thank You" when I see Him. In the sky...out in the ocean...walking through the woods...at church...in good news...or when I feel Him present...I thank Him. Why wait until night when I pray? Why wait until Thanksgiving to be Thankful for all I have?
Living a grateful life has transformed me...from a sad widow with a broken heart to a grateful young woman who was fortunate enough to have loved deeply and experienced a lifetime of joy, sadness, hope and healing, all in a very short amount of time. But I am grateful for all of it...because it makes my life better, sweeter...it puts things into perspective, the little things do not matter. I see things differently then most, I have learned that life is sacred, precious, that there are no guarantees...people you love may not be here tomorrow...losing someone you love more than anything really does change everything.
Having a heart full of gratitude does not mean that I do not grieve and mourn for my loss, I do that plenty. Tears still flow regularly, and my heart still hurts and yearns for what could have been...and sometimes, I just plain miss him. But I have come to realize that it is all part of this process and some day it will be less...and less...and less...and my gratitude will only grow...and grow and with a grateful heart...there is less room for sadness.
As we all gather around the table tomorrow to give thanks and eat and laugh...of course I will be thankful...but no more thankful tomorrow than any other day. I get to live every day in Thanksgiving...and for that I am grateful.
Chase and I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow.
"Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted-a paved road or a washing machine? if you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul." - Rabbi Harold Kushner
"Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality" - Alfred Painter
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