Always Something To Be Thankful For

Day 332 of Photo Inspirations -- Always Something To Be Thankful For
Thanksgiving Day is past, yet the turkey leftovers and a few extra pounds are still with us.  The best of what remains is still the sweet atmosphere of gratitude.  I'm so grateful for the time with my family and especially grateful to celebrate another Thanksgiving with Mom (Granny/Great Granny) -- thus my photo inspirations of this special time.  Note those two silly guys picking her up for a fun photo.  She's always been such a good sport, but precious of all -- was having family prayertime with her.  It binds us together in such sweet tenderness.  I'm so grateful for our family's heritage.  It was Dad & Mom that gave us an example to follow -- through the tough times, they stood strong -- through the joyful times, they showed us how to celebrate life.

Without a doubt, our upbringing plays a big role on the attitude we have -- where there's a spirit of grumbling and complaining, we gravitate to grumbling and complaining.  But where there's optimism and trust in God, even in tough times, we're prone to seeing life from the standpoint of gratitude.  Mom and Dad gave us the example of trusting God in the midst of trials.  But wherever we came from, and what atmosphere we were raised in, it's possible to BECOME grateful -- even if it's not our natural "bent".   But it does take discipline. It's like learning to dance or play a musical instrument or any habit that is formed -- it takes practice and doing it over and over again. The reality is that a grateful heart will make way for EVERYTHING we encounter, to find the good in it, and, best of all, it opens the door for blessings. We just have to replace complaints and fault finding, with praise and thanksgiving. Finding the good in situations, in people, in life's daily challenges.....is possible.  It's there. Here's a great example of turning the negative to positive to thankgiving.

I AM THANKFUL
...for the mess to clean after a party, because
it means I have been surrounded by friends.
...for.the taxes I pay, because it means that I'm employed.
...for the clothes that fit a little too snug,
because it means I have enough to eat.
...for my shadow who watches me work,
because it means I am out in the sunshine.
...for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that
need cleaning and gutters that need fixing,
because it means I have a home.
...for the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot,
because it means I am capable of walking.
...for my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
...for all the complaining I hear about our government,
because it means we have freedom of speech.
...for the lady behind me in church who
sings off key, because it means that I can hear.
...for the piles of laundry and ironing,
because it means my loved ones are nearby.
...for the alarm that goes off in the early morning
hours, because it means that I'm alive.
...for weariness and aching muscles at the end of
the day, because it means I have been productive.

Yes, I am thankful.....and I purpose to live in that thankfulness.....daily.  How about you?