The holidays are difficult for many. First are the burdens of travel. All the traffic and long lines. Then what it takes to prepare the perfect meal. And sometimes even more time to clean the house (men need to help too), making it spotless for all the visitors.
Holidays can bring sadness, reflecting on those who used to be in our lives, having passed onto the next. Or there may be thoughts of despair from past conflicts, sometimes leaving wounds and even resentments.
Who Needs It?
There can be a real stress to the holidays, where you might think, “who needs it?”
I’d propose that you do, I do, we all do…especially Thanksgiving!!!
The first Thanksgiving was in 1621 and celebrated a bountiful harvest. The history of the Thanksgiving Holiday, including its spiritual aspects, can be found at https://www.allabouthistory.org/meaning-of-thanksgiving.htm
Give Thanks
Thanksgiving is obviously a time to remember and be thankful for all of our blessings, whether related to our:
- Health
- Relationships
- Work life
- Leisure.
All of us in the United States ought to also be incredibly thankful for our great country, no matter what political differences some of us may have. There’s truly no other nation like it. Thank God for the USA.
With all of the above, including the things to celebrate and the hurts and wounds that might come to light, I’d suggest that it’s always best to have an “attitude of gratitude”.
Grateful People are Happier People
Studies show that grateful people are happier people and healthier people too. My attitude of gratitude means that I believe that there are no coincidences, that everything happens for a reason, all according to God’s grand plan. And I am grateful for all that has occurred in my life, the good and the bad, because I wouldn’t be who I am without every single one of those occurrences.
So believing the above to be true, we need to understand that the people in our lives are there for a reason. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, as Jesus told us in the Great Commandments, means that we need to love our brothers and sisters, our parents, children, and friends. We have to remember that nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care. We need to always lead with love. And in doing so, let’s be grateful for who they are and the impact they’ve had on us.
Embrace Those in Your Life
Instead of “who needs it”, let’s embrace our family and friends in a special way this week, leading with love and being incredibly grateful for all.
Please comment to me at Mark@MarkJosephMinistries.com.
May God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!
