A State Of Thankfulness

Can you believe that the holiday season is here already? We can say all together…Where Did The Time Go?!
Of course this month, we will take time to come together to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The turkey, parades, family dinners and football are the traditions of the day. Most families have the family member that will come with garments laced with turkey buttons, and the uncle that has quarters for every child in the house. For a day or two, it seems that everything is great at Grandma’s house. What about the person that stands patiently for the carving of the turkey that is saying to themselves or feeling that they have nothing to be thankful for?
There is so much going on right now in everyone’s lives no matter where or who you are. The politics, economy, state of the nation and of the world affects everyone. Some are just affected by watching it on the news everyday. In our personal lives, we face truths everyday of hurt, disappoint, lies and deceit. Our life and expectations of it have and will continue to be compromised because no one really knows what the future holds. Lately I have had to condition my heart to a state of Thankfulness that I pray helps you to consider yourself.
The commercialism of the holidays targets family , happiness , joy and spending. No one has a commercial that shows someone who thought they where getting the engagement ring or thought their son or daughter was coming home from the service for a holiday leave. What about the commercial that shows children WITHOUT coats, hats and gloves? There is not an ad to speak to those who will not sit around a holiday table but in a shelter all alone or with those who have now become their family because of a common bond, homelessness.
A state of Thankfulness has allowed me to see life through the eyes of others. Some days, when feeling my lows coming, I have now had to learn to consider more those who are around me. Giving a lot of thought about the upcoming season, there are two or three different scenarios that I pictured for myself and my family this year. Some of them were based upon the promises of others that I trusted. I really did not see this one coming, the entire different picture! This cannot be a stumbling block for me. It is more of an opportunity to share with someone the words of life, hope and look beyond myself to find out what I want to give that my mind cannot dictate…….just my heart.
There are others around me that are living a life that they cannot shake off. I have already come from severe poverty, addictions and severe depression. Is there someone out there who needs to know that their current situation does not dictate there future status? ABSOLTULEY! That is who I need to find, that is who I need to encourage, and that is who needs to feel the state of Thankfulness again in their lives. Many people will not experience happiness during this season unless you bring it to them. So whether it is to deliver a blanket or two to your local shelter, invite a family with young children to your home or local community center for a family style dinner that you create. It may be to gather your family together and go to your local soup kitchen and volunteer to serve during this season. Take the risk this year to care for someone else during this season and everyday. It will give you the peace that you need that your life will be better because of it. The principles of reaping and sowing is real in our lives daily. I choose to reap a harvest of love, family, peace and joy. I am able to do that walking everyday with the hope of a better future…….a state of thankfulness.
May God Bless you and yours during the Thanksgiving Season!
Copyright Karen L. Donald 2008