The Blessings Come First

I am not worried about what will happen on Thursday, as I settle into the evening after a day filled with food, family and fellowship. I will not be tormented, wondering if someone else got that $20 digital camera that, frankly, would've made a great gift for my parents. 

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day, and while I took a fair amount of time calling around to see what businesses are open, I don't plan on visiting any of them.

It can wait. It can all wait.

It's a rare thing to be truly grateful, to really feel gratitude, and not just thanks. It is a practice, a habit, to find what good there can be in any situation, and breathe a word of gratitude.

I recognize the world has its challenges, and they will never go away, nor should they. Our true challenge is to stay above our struggles enough to grow from them and to virtually stand on them. To realize times like those are opportunities to refine our character.

And on Thursday, we break from the hustle and worry to give thanks to God IN all things (and not necessarily FOR all things).

My wish for all of our engaged, passionate, loyal and supportive readers is to have such a day where there is no room in the schedule for anything less than the blessings of family, love and life.

I thank you all for creating this online community that continues to grow, and wish you the happiest Thanksgiving.