Martha Stewart definitely does not live at my house, and neither does Miss Pinterest. We don’t have any picture-perfect fall decorations around here. In fact, I dragged Bob, our half-dead ficus, in from the balcony to my living room to be this year’s Thanksgiving tree. I figure Bob may not make it through the winter, but at least he’ll have his moment of glory at Thanksgiving.
Each November, I take joy in remembering God’s blessings and counting His gifts.
Have you ever noticed that every day brings both blessings and trials? Your heart sings as you listen to worship music on the early morning walking trail, but then your car breaks down on the way to work. You smile when your daughter brings you a peanut butter cookie she baked, but then you notice the sticky mess on the kitchen floor.
Proverbs has a good word about this:
Timeline of Trouble or Feast of Blessing?
What determines whether we experience life as a timeline of trouble or a feast of blessing? Maybe more than anything it’s our focus? Trials always abound: that snarky memorandum at work, the dog mess you step in at the park, or the phone call bringing bad news. Most days also bring bountiful blessings: morning coffee, a good book, a kiss, or the satisfaction of a job well done.
But maybe I pay less attention to small miracles because I’m too busy griping, fretting, and magnifying in my mind the worst parts of my day.
I don’t mean to sound like Pollyanna, but I’ve noticed constantly focusing on my trials makes them weigh even more heavily. Yet choosing to count my blessings creates a greater sense of abundance. If I wait for troubles to end so I can learn contentment, I might as well give up.
Adversity seems to stick around. I bet you’ve noticed it hanging around you too?
In recent years, it seems that by November, I need Thanksgiving more than ever because by then often the challenges of the year have knocked the gratitude right out of me. I let distressing circumstances poison my perspective and prevent me from seeing God’s goodness, which really does abound far beyond my light and momentary troubles.
But Come November, I come back to gratitude.
I repent for my lack of thanks, and I ask for open eyes to see my life as a continual feast of blessings. I ask for grace to count His kindnesses.
To cultivate a more joyful perspective, I’ve taken up my 1000 Gifts list again. Every day in November I’m listing five things I’m grateful for. Intentionally giving thanks for gifts like these lifts my spirit:
- A sunny November morning
- Lentil soup with fresh mint for lunch
- Hysterical laughter while belting out “Respect” along with my kids and Aretha Franklin.
- Family game of Monopoly
Will you join me from now until Thanksgiving? How about giving thanks for five things each day?
Let’s glory in God’s grace and count His kindnesses rather than meditate on our misfortunes.
Now it’s your turn. How do you cultivate a thankful attitude? What’s one thing you’re grateful for?
Are you facing the challenges of life on an empty tank? Need help renewing your relationship with God?
Betsy,
I love how Proverbs cuts right to the chase…no beating around the bush!! I am back to keeping a Gratitude Journal in November and will hopefully continue it because it does help me to focus on all my blessings rather than get caught up in the things that go wrong. Your post is further reminder to stay on this track….thanks!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Yes, I’ve gotten back to it myself, Bev. It really does help me realize how beautiful my life is.
Love this, Betsy! That’s probably one of the chief reasons I love November so much…it brings us back to gratitude. Thank you, friend, for the refocus, as always.
I love November myself. Thanksgiving really IS my favorite holiday.
I do love the word “feast.”
Sally Clarkson uses it in her Lifegiving Table — and it makes me aware that celebration is so much a part of what we do when we are mindful of the One who gives it all so freely for us to enjoy!
Blessings, Betsy!
“Feast” is a wonderful word, isn’t it, Michele? Yes to more celebrating on a daily basis!
Thank you Betsy! This is just what I needed to read. I suffered a major plumbing disaster Sunday a.m., but I had already come to what you described because God is ALWAYS good and his blessings abundant.
Love you writings always. Bless you and your family.
Oh Mary, I know what those plumbing disasters are like, girl! Not fun! Sorry about that. So glad you were able to return and remember abundant blessings!
Loved this post, Betsy. I haven’t even put up my fall decorations yet, so I’m obviously in a non-Pinterest house too. But this season is bountiful in beauty, and I’m thanking God every day for small things. Sharing your post on FB and Twitter.
Well, I did just put out a few pine cones on the table in my entryway, that’s about it for decorations around here! But I’m all for celebrating thanks. Next week, I hope to do a bit of decorating…. Maybe kinda sorta. 🙂
Thank you for sharing the verse from Proverbs. My heart needed to read that today!! XO
What a wonderful reminder Betsy. We have so much to be grateful for. Thank you for sharing your insights and this poignant scripture from Proverbs. I will remember to thank God for my feast of blessings and share this scripture and pist. Such words of encouragement. Have a wonderful week and may God continue to bless you and your family in all your endeavors.
Lovely post, Betsy! I agree, our focus makes a big difference. There will always be challenges but choosing to look for the good and taking to time to be thankful for that makes life much better. I’ve been keeping a gratitude journal since the start of the year and it’s been a helpful practice, and encouraging to look back on too.
Betsy, I love this post. It’s true that the ups and downs of a year can sap us of a grateful spirit come November. I used to write three things a day in a journal, but I haven’t done that all year. I still try to be thankful each day. Our family often thinks about three things each of us is grateful for each day and we write it down on a list. My youngest grates at doing this, but isn’t that when we need to choose gratitude the most?
I love your five things, Betsy. For me: a vehicle that runs well, time with my three guys, a weekend (coming up) away so I can write—compliments of my husband, fall leaves, and people in our lives who help us.
That verse is especially meaningful right now. My grandpa just passed last Friday and when asked how he was doing in recent weeks, he always responded, “I’m happy.” Thanks for the wonderful words today, Betsy!
Kelly, I am so sorry about your grandpa. What a beautiful lesson he taught you: “I’m happy.”
Well, this is true for me, for sure, friend –>’But maybe I pay less attention to small miracles because I’m too busy griping, fretting, and magnifying in my mind the worst parts of my day.’
I’ve been working on noticing where I’m at more quickly and choosing to praise instead. I do believe my pity parties are getting smaller … and am finding my burdens are becoming His instead.
I love that!
Beautiful words, my friend! I find that having an attitude of gratitude (I make note each morning of 5-10 things I am grateful for), helps me on those really menopausal-hormonal-everyone-bugs-me-days. And that’s a good thing! Who needs replacement therapy when you can use gratitude therapy :D.
Seeing life as a continual feast of blessings. YES!!! Choosing joy is what I’ll have on my plate of thanks!!!🙌🙏
I didn’t remember that Proverb- excellent!! Thanks for illustrating it clearly. I find dwelling on the “bad” of the day makes it heavier, too. When I catch myself mentally rereading my “bad list,” I aim to hand that over to the Lord and starting rereading the “good list.” It’s always longer.
Right now I am grateful for an unexpected day off! 🙂
Great post, thank you. A few years ago I would have been the one seeing life for all the problems. I’ ve gotten better (although I still do it) but I only notice the difference because I see others only focusing on the negative. I wish it was as easy as telling others to not do that but it’s not. I hope those people I know can find the way to see the continual feast of life.
It is so true, Kathleen, that it’s often easier to see that attitude in OTHERS, before we recognize it in OURSELVES. Thanks for bringing this up, so insightful.
So! Very! True! What we focus on determines whether we live feast or famine! My blessing today? Just being home after being gone for 3 days! Being with those who live in my house! The little and big things – like the way the sun comes into my kitchen in the morning. There’s so much to feast on! Wishing you blessing and feasting in this Thankful season!
I’m joining you in listing blessings each day. I loved the verse from Proverbs. Thank you for this uplifting post.
great, encouraging words. five thankfuls a day are manageable. but i’m late so maybe i’ll do four. and i love it that you named Bob, Bob. I keep our ficus in all year and water it on my way to the kitchen after my QT with my leftover coffee. My Bob loves coffee. As do I. Happy Thanking!
I name all my plants, Sue. I don’t know why, but I do. (Well, most of them.) I wish you a joyous November, friend!
Thanks and great post Betsy and so true of life’s turns and hills. Glad God is in the driver’s seat.
Thank you, Amorcito. You are my role model and hero. <3
Betsey, this was a wonderful encouragement to focus on the blessings we have. And we have so many.
Yes, we do have many indeed, friend!
So true Betsey, both blessings and irritations are side by side of us every day. Which will we focus on and let influence our mood and attitude. Great reminder.
Wonderful reminder, Betsy! Thank you so much! I’ve bookmarked this page so I can come back to it again and am sharing on twitter.
Thank you for the convicting words of truth that bring us back to a place of proper focus.
Right now, I am most thankful that I have God as my Portion, that He never leaves me nor forsakes me even when I forget to be thankful for all His daily blessings. He has given me many gifts for which to be thankful, as you said, and getting hung up on the negatives of life must grieve His Spirit. I am thankful for His mercy and grace and love.
In my latest post I talk about God as our Portion; here’s the web address in case you want to read it: https://plantedbylivingwater.wordpress.com/2017/11/13/the-biggest-and-best-portion/
Happy Thanksgiving!!
I hope you had a good Thanksgiving, Ruth. Yes, He is our Generous Portion! 🙂